Community News
Meet the Brennecke Family! - Christine's Corner
Posted on Mar 2nd, 2026
Meet the Brennecke Family!
by Christine Bachman
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If you heard a big cheer coming from Shannon Elementary recently, it might have been for 10-year-old Hannah Brennecke! This bright fourth grader who is also a proud Sonoma Verde resident won the Shannon Elementary Spelling Bee and proudly represented her school at the Rockwall ISD Spelling Bee in January 2026, competing alongside students from elementary and middle schools across Rockwall County. Hannah made it through the first round at district, no small feat in a traditional oral spelling bee format! Standing alone at a microphone spelling words in front of a crowd takes serious courage, and we’re giving her an A+ for bravery and determination. Shannon librarian Allison Glasgow shared how proud she was of all the students who participated, especially Hannah for stepping up to represent the school at district. This year’s school competition had a twist: students completed a hybrid oral/written format, where the librarian announced each word and students wrote down their answers. The district competition, however, was fully oral , a new challenge that gave participants great experience and a glimpse into higher-level competition. Hannah admitted she felt excited (and a little nervous!) since she didn’t quite know what to expect, but she embraced the opportunity. Her mom, Brittany, summed it up perfectly: “The whole thing was a great experience, and we are so proud of her.” When she’s not spelling championship-worthy words, Hannah enjoys soaking up summer days at the Sonoma Verde pool with her friends. She loves trying new things, has a special talent for spelling, and clearly has a soft spot for cats. She recently shared an adorable, colorful cat art project that proves creativity runs strong in the family! |
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| Pictured left to right: Benjamin, Jacob, Brittany, and Hannah, one fun-loving Sonoma Verde crew with plenty to celebrate! | ||
| The Brenneckes moved to Sonoma Verde five years ago from Mesquite, where both Hannah and Benjamin were born. Brittany and Jacob originally hail from Little Elm. They’ve fully embraced Sonoma Verde life and especially love the sense of community for their kids. “We love the community events,” Brittany says. “They’re so much fun and something the kids really look forward to.” Between the parks, the pool, and neighborhood friendships, this family has found their happy place right here. So if you see Hannah out and about, be sure to congratulate her on her spelling bee accomplishment, and we’ll see everyone at the pool this summer! |
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| Hannah's cat she made in art class. | Hannah participating in the Rockwall County Spelling Bee in January 2026 |
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