Spelling Bee underway
The National Spelling Bee Belize District elimination round was held this morning at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. Eighteen students from primary schools in the Belize District battled it out in the competition sponsored by Coca-Cola once again. But as News Five found out, the organizers of this always- well-run event still managed to make some improvements for this year.
As hundreds of students filled the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall to witness the Belize District elimination process, it was anyone’s guess who would be chosen as finalists. Although the Coca-Cola Spelling Bee is in its fifth year, some changes have been made this year.
Silvana Woods
“This is the fifth year Coca Cola is sponsoring the Coca Cola Spelling Bee along with the Ministry of Education. It’s very exciting this year. We have AZ the Spelling Bee mascot which I think you got to see. AZ picks people out of the audience and gives them a chance to spell. Also with the rules we have made the winners of the national contest to have the option to request that they get cash towards their education because last year a winner did not have electricity in his village and he couldn’t use the computer so we made that change.”
Woods says among the other changes this year was having D-Revelation Band compose a Spelling Bee jingle. As the competition continued and the rounds became intense there were only two students left on stage. In the end Candice Chavannes from St. Peter’s Elementary in San Pedro took first and Jamie Lee Rocke from Grace Primary School second place.
Candice Chavannes, Winner
“Great, I guess because I never knew I was going to win. Probably if I would study my words during the Easter then I would win again.”
Jamie Lee Rocke, Second Place
“I feel sort of proud that I came in second and I feel well honored to be representing Belize in the final Spelling Bee contest. My mom helped me a lot and my best friend Inga and my dad. I would read over the words and spell them.”
Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.
Next week the Spelling Bee moves to the Toledo District and will make its way to the Stann Creek District. The national finals will be in April and aired on Channel Five.
