Orange Walk student is national spelling champ
It has become a traditional rite of passage for some of the nation’s brightest students. Today the pressure in the City Centre for the National Spelling Bee was as high as the temperature outside. News Five’s Jacqueline Woods was on hand to meet some of the coolest kids in Belize.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The Belize City Centre was crowded with primary school children who came to support their favorite student in the Sixth Coca-Cola National Spelling Bee. The competition got underway with 12 district finalist but at by the end of the 8th round only two students remained on stage. Justin Ysaguirre from Pilgrim Fellowship Primary school in Hattieville and Al Sanchez from Louisiana Government school in the Orange Walk District.
Sanchez won two computers complete with accessories for his school and himself, while Ysaguirre also won a computer.
Justin Ysaguirre, 2nd Place Winner
“I studied hard and when I find an unusual word, I try to memorize it.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And now that you have won yourself a computer…first of all do you know how to work with the computer?”
Justin Ysaguirre
“I already know how to work with a computer.”
Jacqueline Woods
“How did you learn?”
Justin Ysaguirre
“My father bought a computer.”
Al Sanchez, 1st Place Winner
“I prepared myself for today by studying my list and making my friends and teachers help me to study with it.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Were you nervous when you came out to the Belize City Centre or were you feeling confident?”
Al Sanchez
“I was a little bit nervous but at the same time I was quite confident.”
The students were encouraged by the strong presence of their school and parents.
Renate Gordon, Principal, Pilgrim Fellowship
“First of all by encouraging a lot of reading, a lot of spelling, a lot of phonics. We did a lot of that and also building their self esteem and trying to make them feel proud of themselves
assured of themselves whatever they put themselves into to.”
Pat Sanchez, Mother
“I think it is very important, it is encouraging for the children to see that their parents are interested in their work. It also motivates the teachers to continue working with our children because I do know teachers have a great job to do. I am a teacher myself and I find that with the teachers cooperating it does makes a difference.”
Guadalupe Quetzal, Principal, Louisiana Government School
“Miss Sanchez did a wonderful job, I went there to check to see where he needed some help, which list they were studying, what areas we could have helped, but overall they are the ones that worked everyday.”
For Bowen and Bowen Limited, the quiz sponsor, this year’s competition was satisfying.
Nicholas Pollard Jr., Sales Manager, Bowen and Bowen Ltd.
“Well over the few years we have been having little entertainment by kids from schools, this year we have added the YAA, the Young Artists Association and I think they have made a tremendous difference. Their music fits right into our society, to community, they have added a lot of flavour and motivation to the kids.”
The teachers for the 1st and 2nd place winners also received a special prize in recognition of their service and dedication.
Reporting for News Five, I am Jacqueline Woods.
News Five would like to congratulate all those who participated in the spelling bee as well as the Young Artists Association.
