Top spellers crowd podium

(CNS): Four primary school students managed perfect scores in this year’s Primary Spelling Bee and all took the top spot in the long-running word contest. Co-sponsor, the Royal Bank of Canada, has committed to donate three additional laptop computers for the young champions, who crowded the winning podium after they emphatically demonstrated their word talent. “I don’t think I’ve been in a spelling bee where the competition has been so keen, and the students have done so very, very well!” said Education Minister Alden McLaughlin.

He and Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler were impressed with the high standards, as well as for the hard work and preparations of the students, teachers and parents. They also thanked Royal Bank of Canada for agreeing to donate the three additional computers to the winners.

Learning Community Leader Herbert Crawford  was also enthusiastic about the results. “These are the highest standards ever!  I can’t remember another year when four children tiedwith perfect scores,” he said. “We spend so much time focusing on the negatives, but tonight is a wonderful night for our children.”

The competition took place at the Mary Miller Hall on Tuesday, 10 February, when Creek and Spot Bay Primary students Anitha Velusamy and Nayo Swan, along with John A. Cumber’s Aliyah Linwood and Grace Christian Academy’s Laura Hynd tied for the top spot. David Forbes of Savannah Primary placed second. Tying for third place were Prospect Primary’s Joshua Thompson, Cayman Academy’s Mariah Webb, and Montessori by the Sea’s Sabrina Silva.

Sponsored by the bank and the Department of Education Services, the students tackled brain twisters like mayonnaise, incognito, vespiaries, tetrahedron, and even palindromes like kayak. They sought definitions and word origins as they competed for thesauruses, trophies and of course, the laptop.

The overall results, by school, were:

Creek and Spot Bay – 88 points;

Savannah – 58 points;

Prospect – 55 points;

George Town – 55 points;

Grace Christian Academy – 50 points;

John A. Cumber – 47 points;

Cayman Academy – 40 points; and

Montessori by the Sea – 36 points.