Is it premature to talk about a spelling bee dynasty in Waterford?Perhaps not.

Perhaps not.For the second consecutive year the Foster family was letter-perfect at the annual Waterford Education Foundation Spelling Bee.

For the second consecutive year the Foster family was letter-perfect at the annual Waterford Education Foundation Spelling Bee.The Fosters-Mark, Diane, and Bryan-all of whom are teachers, walked home last week with a gold trophy from the foundation's annual fundraising event at Clark Lane Middle School, besting two other teams on "Iliad," the deceptively tricky word meaning an epic poem in the Homeric tradition.

The Fosters-Mark, Diane, and Bryan-all of whom are teachers, walked home last week with a gold trophy from the foundation's annual fundraising event at Clark Lane Middle School, besting two other teams on "Iliad," the deceptively tricky word meaning an epic poem in the Homeric tradition. The family attributed their repeat performance to their love of etymologies, something Mark Foster imparts to his language students at Waterford High.

The family attributed their repeat performance to their love of etymologies, something Mark Foster imparts to his language students at Waterford High."If you're in my class you learn them," he said. "We always are looking at word origins."

"If you're in my class you learn them," he said. "We always are looking at word origins." Mark and Diane Foster's son Bryan, who is working on his certification to teach French, noted that many of the words selected were from Old English or Latin.

Mark and Diane Foster's son Bryan, who is working on his certification to teach French, noted that many of the words selected were from Old English or Latin.The spelling bee is the main fundraiser for the Waterford Education Foundation, which over the past two years has provided grants to more than 20 organizations and activities that serve the town's students.

The spelling bee is the main fundraiser for the Waterford Education Foundation, which over the past two years has provided grants to more than 20 organizations and activities that serve the town's students.This year, the bee had 20 teams of two to four people each sponsored either by an individual or by a company that paid the $250 entry fee.

This year, the bee had 20 teams of two to four people each sponsored either by an individual or by a company that paid the $250 entry fee.The Foundation dedicated the bee to the late Judith Coughlin who had been active in organizing the first two events.

The Foundation dedicated the bee to the late Judith Coughlin who had been active in organizing the first two events.Coughlin died in December.

Coughlin died in December."If you lived or worked in the town of Waterford," foundation president Kim Hodges said, "Judy made your life better. She was always there to lend a hand."

"If you lived or worked in the town of Waterford," foundation president Kim Hodges said, "Judy made your life better. She was always there to lend a hand."Hodges said the foundation will this year establish a scholarship fund at Waterford High to be given to a senior class member who "best exemplifies Judy's spirit, and gestures of kindness and generosity."

Hodges said the foundation will this year establish a scholarship fund at Waterford High to be given to a senior class member who "best exemplifies Judy's spirit, and gestures of kindness and generosity."The competition, led by beemaster Laurie Wolfley, a professor of English at UConn-Avery Point, saw five teams square off each other in four different rounds. The winners of the preliminary rounds moved on to a championship round.

The competition, led by beemaster Laurie Wolfley, a professor of English at UConn-Avery Point, saw five teams square off each other in four different rounds. The winners of the preliminary rounds moved on to a championship round.Instead of the nerve-wracking challenge of spelling words out loud, the competitor sat at desks on the Clark Lane stage and had 30 seconds to write the words on dry-erase boards.

Instead of the nerve-wracking challenge of spelling words out loud, the competitor sat at desks on the Clark Lane stage and had 30 seconds to write the words on dry-erase boards.The three judges-Waterford assistant principal Craig Powers, United States Coast Guard Academy dean Kurt J. Colella and Mitchell College president Mary Ellen Jukoski-then decided if the words were correct.

The three judges-Waterford assistant principal Craig Powers, United States Coast Guard Academy dean Kurt J. Colella and Mitchell College president Mary Ellen Jukoski-then decided if the words were correct.Eventual winners the Foster family, going by their Screaming' Jay Hawkins inspired team name I Put A Spell On You, bested Coughlin's Spellers on "analgesic" to win their round.

Eventual winners the Foster family, going by their Screaming' Jay Hawkins inspired team name I Put A Spell On You, bested Coughlin's Spellers on "analgesic" to win their round.Round two saw the return of Legislative Lexicons-State Sen. Andrea Stillman, Rep. Betsy Ritter, and Rep. Ed Jutila- who unfortunately tasted defeat, going out on "palate."

Round two saw the return of Legislative Lexicons-State Sen. Andrea Stillman, Rep. Betsy Ritter, and Rep. Ed Jutila- who unfortunately tasted defeat, going out on "palate."PMS-Michelle Mason, Shelley McCormick, and Paula Page-won the round, knocking out two teams with "schlockmeister."

PMS-Michelle Mason, Shelley McCormick, and Paula Page-won the round, knocking out two teams with "schlockmeister."Judi's Bee's were the only team who got "ululate," which means "to lament loudly," correct giving the other teams a reason to, well, ululate. (They didn't.)

Judi's Bee's were the only team who got "ululate," which means "to lament loudly," correct giving the other teams a reason to, well, ululate. (They didn't.)Merrill Lynch's knocked out the other round two teams on "salvageable" before all the round winners succumbed to the Fosters in the final.

Merrill Lynch's knocked out the other round two teams on "salvageable" before all the round winners succumbed to the Fosters in the final.