The Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Stabroek (RCOS) recently hosted their 10th Annual Spelling Bee competition at the Bagotville Library and the top spellers were awarded.
The RCOS in its press release stated that in the 10 – 13-year age group, Patash Visuanath of Grade 6, Kawall Primary School, emerged as the winner over 2nd place Anthon Peters of Grade 6, Genesis Primary with Marissa Doobay of Grade 5, also a student Kawall Primary School, taking 3rd place.
The 7 – 9-year age group champion Zuriel Arthur of Grade 2, Genesis Primary School, outlasted 2nd place Rebekah Joseph and 3rd place Rachel Joseph both of Grade 4, Vive-La-Force Primary School.
The dramatic challenges came about in the 7 – 9 age group where the battle between Arthur and Joseph was steady throughout the last 12 of 19 rounds with Arthur finally taking the win when Joseph misspelt her word.
In the 10-13 age group Visuanath was impressively calm and confidently prevailed over his charismatic opponent Peters who stumbled in round 12.
Prizes were donated by Food For The Poor with teachers and parents being invited to the event. One parent related that she was fortunate to witness her son participate for the first time and that she can now see how such literacy-based initiatives helps to boost self-confidence.
RCOS acknowledges that there was marked overall improvement in presentation and ability to spell words that were never heard before, but urged parents to become more involved with their children’s schoolwork.
President of RCOS, Delroy Carrington was on hand to congratulate the winners and present them their prizes which were haversacks filled with school supplies and goodies. In his brief remarks, he reiterated “RCOS over the years, has been very pleased to continue its support for literacy classes and the Annual Spelling Bee, since as a club we have been seeing tremendous progress made by students and the positive impact on their confidence and life in general.”
Participants were drawn from membership of the Bagotville Library and the Bagotville Literacy Group reading programme, the RCOS added.
