With the Tobago leg of the Mind Star National Spelling Bee now concluded, fifteen outstanding Primary and Secondary school students have secured their place in the finals in Trinidad.
On the surface, the Mind Star National Spelling Bee is like any other academic competition. However, according to Managing Director of AL Williams Educational Services and Consultancy, Adanna Leonard-Williams, this spelling bee also broadens young minds.
“It is to help you, young minds, to be able to have a bank of words so you will not have to be lost for words. You will not lack in describing anything that comes to your mind and also in your academic lives to progress fully in either your SEA exams, CSEC, CAPE, and further, to enhance your lives in your tertiary level.”
She believes competence in both reading and writing is important.
“Once you can read and write efficiently, you can understand anything. And the sky is the limit.”
The Mind Star Spelling Bee competition saw students from Primary and Secondary schools from all over Tobago participating in various categories. Simultaneously, the students were also exposed to a tech park.
“That tech park is important not just to show the fun-loving aspect of technology but to also give you the vision and give you that thought-provoking mindset that you could delve into other professions.”
There were three categories of competition for both Primary and Secondary schools.
In the Primary Schools Standard 1 category, L’Juanae Robert from Black Rock Government Primary School placed 1st. For Standards 2 and 3, the winner was Yenzia Bhagoutie of Montgomery Government, and for Standards 4 and 5, Keil White of Golden Lane Government Primary took home top honours.
In the Secondary Schools categories, in Forms 1 and 2, the winner was Kylie Charles of Bishop’s High School. Her schoolmate, Isabelle Sheppard, captured the Forms 3 and 4 category, and the champion of the Forms 5 and 6 category was Sirhansel Marcelle of Scarborough Secondary School.
All first-, second- and third-place winners of each category will compete in Trinidad in the finals on May 13th.