Ryan Ramlall of the Bregado Flax Education Centre- Secondary Division is the winner of the Inter-Secondary Schools’ National Spelling Bee competition.

Elmore Stoutt High School students Khemisha Stoutt placed second followed by Jade Allison Straker third. Cedar International’s Aria Creque and Lekeisha Allen placed fourth and fifth respectively in the final competition held on Thursday, May 10 at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall.

The participants competed on an individual basis, rather than by school or teams and were subjected to learn a total of 5000 words to prepare themselves for the competition.

Coordinator for the competition, Mrs. Heida Joyles-Selwood said that the competition aids in the development of the Territory’s students by increasing their ability to spell.

Mrs. Joyles-Selwood said, “This competition allows for our students to foster comradery and improve social interactions, all the while showcasing their skills in literacy through spelling and pronunciation.”

 The competition, began on May 3, and the preliminary round saw Ryan Ramlall advancing with 45 points; followed by Jade Allison Straker of the Elmore Stoutt High School with 40 points; Aria Creque of Cedar International with 30 points, Lekeisha Allen, also of Cedar International with 25 points and Khemisha Stoutt of the Elmore Stoutt High School with 20 points. Students, Rakesheah Young and Annesia Stapleton from the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies and Alonah Williams of Bregado Flax Educational Centre- Secondary Division did not advance.

The Inter-Primary National Spelling Bee finals will be held on Monday, May 15, and students in the primary school division will compete. The schools to be represented in the finals are Joyce Samuel Primary School, Bregado Flax Educational Centre- Primary Division, Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School, Agape Total Life Academy and the Alexandrina Maduro Primary School.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to ‘Creating a Culture of Excellence’.

Photo Captions: 

1. Winner of the Inter-Secondary Schools’ Spelling Bee Competition, Ryan Ramlall during the spelling bee action. (Photo credit: GIS/Franklyn Skerrit)
2. Participants from the various secondary schools during the Inter-Secondary Schools’ Spelling Bee Preliminary round. (Photo credit: GIS/Franklyn Skerrit)