National Spelling Bee begins
In an age when computers automatically correct our printed words, it’s an art that seems almost archaic. But if you’ve ever received a hand or typewritten letter from a person who cannot spell, you know just how painful such communication can be. So how do we promote such skills in our children? There’s nothing like a good old fashioned spelling bee.
It was a proud moment for Marla Hyde and her classmates and teachers of Roaring Creek Nazarene School as she proved to be the country’s top speller in 1997. While Hyde is now in High School, organizers of the National Coca Cola Spelling Bee are once again on a nationwide hunt for a new spelling champion.
Silvana Woods, PR Officer, Bowen & Bowen
“This is the fourth consecutive year Bowen and Bowen is sponsoring the contest and it really promises to be bigger and better than ever. Bigger for example in terms of prizes. While we are still giving three computers for the first prize, that is one for the second prize winner and one for the winning school at the national level. At the zone eliminations level this year Bowen and Bowen is also kicking in, apart from soft drinks and certificates, kicking in little coca cola bottles and small prizes.”
Prizes which are costing Bowen and Bowen a handsome fifty thousand dollars. And that’s only the half of it.
Nick Pollard Jr., Marketing Manager, Bowen & Bowen
“Every year in the coca cola national spelling bee Bowen and Bowen pays out over twenty three thousand dollars to pay for transportation countrywide. So here again busses are at work, transportation is at work and this continues. Moving all those kids from zone to zone require a lot of busses and then moving them district to district so that is where you are looking at over twenty three thousand dollars. All in all its costing about sixty thousand dollars to do the entire program.”
Pollard says that since the competition was revived four years ago by his company, the response has been favorable. So much so that some schools now include spelling practice as a regular part of their daily routine. The contest has grown so competitive, that Bowen and Bowen has had to step up to meet the challenge which grows stronger each year.
Silvana Woods
“We are happy to report that Bowen and Bowen is also paying for the production of spelling lists by a retired teacher. So that’s very exciting, (a) it took the load off some of the in-house production done at Bowen and Bowen, secondly its even more formal, more standardized at the level, the reading levels of the students.”
There are over two hundred and thirty primary schools nationwide taking part in the Spelling Bee, making it a truly national event.
Silvana Woods
“Yes because now you have to understand too the teachers and the school system, its also their fourth year along with us. So I’m sure they have a few tricks up their sleeves on how to better prepare themselves for the contest, for example one hint we want to publicly give the students is please, when you’re up there, you’re nervous, you have the option to ask for the quiz mistress or master to give you a meaning or sentence if you’re not too sure of the word.”
While the participants may not be sure about all the words they will have to spell, Woods says that one thing is for sure: the competition has long gone beyond the original concept of students just getting up on a stage and spelling some words.
Silvana Woods
“We got an earlier start this year to coincide best with the existing school calendar of events. I’m very happy to say that our winners from the past year all seem to be doing quite well in the high schools they’ve gone on to. And the students all seem to be quite excited about participating … But it also promotes the whole discipline of practice, of being well read. Because when it comes down to the reserve lists those students who are the best read students who have a better chance.”
While there have been some minor adjustments to the overall way things are done for the Spelling Bee, the competition has maintained its original format with eliminations first at the zone level, then the district level and finally the nationals.
Silvana Woods
“The zone eliminations are happening now, they began this week countrywide. That conclude and then two representative of each zone go on to the district finals, except for Belize which has so many zones, one person go on to the district finals. The district finals occur beginning with the Corozal district in March and the final district for March will be Stann Creek and two representatives, a first and second place winner will be chosen form the district eliminating contest to represent their district at the national finals on April 24th, 9 am at the Belize City Center.”
Nick Pollard Jr.
“This is the fourth time we’re doing it. We’ve been out in the field, myself and my supervisors, we’ve been out in the field. We’ve looked at the response from the teachers, from the students, from the district education officers and its been very very good. There are young children coming up in Standard Four who are looking towards the National Coca Cola Spelling Bee that one day they will be able to participate. So I think that the Coca Cola National Spelling Bee is like a trademark for Belize now.”
A trademark that will hopefully stand out just as prominently as the red Coca Cola signs so familiar around the country. Patrick Jones, for News Five.
The finals of the Coca Cola National Spelling Bee will be broadcast right here on Channel Five.
