ROTARACT CLUB OF ANTIGUA

Pictured are Rotaract President Shamarie Spencer; Rotaract Community Service Director Daydre Daley, Paul Miller, Grace Christian Academy; Mersha Jackson, Sunnyside Tutorial; Keondre Herbert, St. John's Catholic Primary; Jahsheeda Brodie, Freetown Primary; Annafra John-Pierre, Five Islands Primary; Alec Wilkinson, St. Nicholas Primary; Jermaine Simon, Gospel Light Elementary; Khira Christopher, Michael's Primary; Gamoy Morrison, Charlesworth T Samuel Primary and Gecentha Reynold, Potters Primary.

By Joanne Hillhouse
If you’ve witnessed the nail biting bouts during the Bee’s four previous years, you know that you just never know how it’s going to go. Some crumble in the spotlight, some prove tenacious, some sneak up on the victory, all have a fighting chance, as long as they come to spell. Preparation is key. Nerves of steel help. Resilience is an asset. Who will have the stuff to Spell their way to the winner’s circle in this Rotaract organized Seven Seas/Frank B. Armstrong sponsored event is literally anybody’s guess and that’s what makes it so engaging.

If you’re an adult, or a parent, it’s always also an interesting challenge to test your own spelling skills. You’ll likely even end up more impressed with these grade fivers, because with the involvement of the Ministry of Education, which helps prep and vet the words, the competition is, as it’s intended to be, a challenge.

Rising to the challenge this time around are semi-finalists, Paul Miller of Grace Christian Academy, Mersha Jackson of Sunnyside Tutorial, Keondre Herbert of St. John’s Catholic Primary, Jahsheeda Brodie of Freetown Primary, Annafra John-Pierre of Five Islands Primary, Alec Wilkinson of St. Nicholas, Jermaine Simon of Gospel Light Elementary, Khira Christopher of St. Michael’s, Gamoy Morrison of Charlesworth T. Samuel Primary, and Gecentha Reynold of Potters Primary. Who are the ones to watch? Well, a win this year would make a total trophy haul of three for Grace Christian. St. Michael’s was in the top three last year. Sunnyside and St. John’s Catholic have been in the finals before. So many opportunities worth seizing especially with last year’s winner a no-show, leaving the door wide open for the most ambitious student.

Based on last weekend’s preliminary round, which fielded 23 participants, Rotaract Community Services Director, Daydre Daley, has indicated that the level of competition will be high, no less than we’ve come to expect of this contest. She reported, “The round witnessed the outstanding performance of students like Alec Wilkinson from St. Nicholas Primary, who scored a total of 18 out of 20. The scores were overall better this year; the top ten semi-finalists scored from 14 and higher… The students not only spelled well but they enjoyed the round.”

Daley continued, “We are very proud of the event and look forward to the other rounds of competition.”

We predict you will too, and urge you to go out to the Multipurpose Centre this Saturday at 10 a.m., and support the kids, or as we like to think of them word-gladiators.