Spelling bee time is just around the corner and a number of students are brushing up on their word lists.

The 2012-13 Merced County Spelling Bees will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the Atwater Community Center and the Merced County Office of Education, respectively, and students have been studying nonstop to earn a spot at the top, MCOE organizers said.

On Wednesday, about 85 fourth- through sixth-grade students from 40 elementary schools in the county will compete at 9 a.m. at the community center, 760 E. Bellevue Road, Atwater. On Thursday, about 35 seventh- and eighth-graders from 15 junior high schools will compete at 9 a.m. at the MCOE's Clark-Newbold conference rooms at 632 W. 13th St., Merced.

Osvaldo DeLuna, coordinator for instructional services at MCOE, is the word master for the elementary competition, and John Magneson, coordinator for instructional serv- ices at the MCOE, will be the word master for the junior high competition.

Words and definitions will be given to students before they put their spelling skill into action.

First- and second-place winners from both competitions will go on to represent Merced County at the state championships.

The elementary study word list is provided by the San Joaquin County Office of Education, which holds the elementary state spelling bee championship. The Marin County Office of Education provides the junior high word list and holds the state championship in San Rafael.

The word lists are available online. For more information about the spelling bees, contact Valerie LeDuc, MCOE student events supervisor, at 381-5910.

Reporter Doane Yawger can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dyawger@mercedsunstar.com.