Learners’ skills tested at Spelling Bee

Learners from Mitchell House took the first three places in the junior section as well as the first place in the senior section of a spelling bee that was hosted by Mitchell House recently.
Grade 4 to 7 learners from Mitchell House, Curro Heuwelkruin, Northern Academy and Eagle’s Nest Christian School tested their skills at the event that was well attended by fellow learners.
More than 60 contestants were individually called to the podium in two sessions, first the Grade 4 and 5s and thereafter the Grade 6 and 7s. Pronouncers Joanne Grosel and Jenean Friedemann assured that all the words were clearly articulated and words like bazaar, flour, gorilla, hustle and dome presented no challenge for the spelling gurus, while calendar, enzyme, horizon and bursar sent some contestants back to their seats in the audience.
Judges Lize Roux, Kerry Spratt and Nikki Venter listened carefully as the contestants had to pronounce the words, spell it out slowly and pronounce it again.
Where a word appeared unfamiliar, the pronouncers provided short sentences in which the meaning and context of the words were explained.
Grosel, who also coordinated the competition, said that the spelling bee is an annual event and that the learners could not prepare for the challenge because only the organisers had the words.
The winners in the Grade 4 and 5 group, Sophie Skinner, first, Taskeen Tayob, second and Mabetjie Mankga, third, were all from Mitchell House. In the Grade 6 and 7 group, Nuha Hassim from Mitchell House took the first place, followed by Prayer Muchiranhondo from Eagle’s Nest Christian School and Jessica Ndwammbi from Northern Academy respectively in the second and third places.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com