Word Up! North Star Students Make a Wordy Debut

Letter by letter, two Redwood City School District (RCSD) students made their way to Washington, D.C. this spring to compete in the North American School Scrabble Championship.

North Star Academy fifth graders Calvin and Aarav represented their school at the national tournament, becoming the first Gryphons to reach this level of competition. They were also one of the few teams from California in their division, according to posted standings.

Scrabble is a word game where players use lettered tiles to build words on a game board, scoring points based on the letters used and their placement on the board. In School Scrabble, teams of two work together to find high-scoring words within a set time limit.

Word Up! North Star Students Make a Wordy Debut — **Calvin and Aarav strategize during the North American School Scrabble Championship in Washington, D.C.**

The national competition, drawing participants from across the United States, pits teams of two against each other in an intellectual battle of words. In the Elementary/Middle School division, Calvin and Aarav navigated through eight rigorous games, each timed meticulously at 25 minutes. Their skills were put to the test as they strategically placed tiles to spell out high-scoring words, aiming for victory and a coveted spot in the championship round.

Representing their school and state, the two North Star students showed strong teamwork and vocabulary skills throughout the tournament. With their participation, Calvin and Aarav have set a new standard for future generations of Scrabble enthusiasts at RCSD. Their participation was a proud moment for the Gryphon community and a great example of how academic competitions can spark curiosity, strategy, and fun.

The students compete against another team during the North American School Scrabble Championship — **The Gryphons compete against another team during the North American School Scrabble Championship**

“I’m incredibly proud of Calvin and Aarav—not just for how far they went, but for the focus, teamwork, and sportsmanship they showed throughout,” said their 5th grade teacher, Stephanie Vance.

"Beyond the excitement of the competition, games like Scrabble help students grow their vocabulary, sharpen their spelling, and develop critical thinking and strategic skills—all while having fun. It’s a great reminder that learning doesn’t just happen through textbooks—it can happen across a game board, too.” -Teacher Stephanie Vance

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Word Up! North Star Students Make a Wordy Debut

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