Nicoy Downie of Jesse Ripoll Primary School and Kristopher Samuels of Mavisville Preparatory, are pictures of concentration as they wait their turn to spell yesterday in the Kingston Parish Finals of the National Spelling Bee. Nicoy finished third and Kristopher finished fourth. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer BOYS AND girls had an even start in yesterday's first round of The Gleaner's Children's Own-sponsored Spelling Bee competition, with 10-year-old Donique Francis of Monymusk Prep winning in Clarendon, and Javaughn Smith, also 10, of Vaz Preparatory, emerging Parish Champion in Kingston.
Donique confidently spelt her way to victory at the 44th renewal of the Gleaner's Children's Own-sponsored Spelling Bee competition which kicked off yesterday in Clarendon. The Champion Girl walked away with the trophy and booked her spot at the National Finals in February 2003
After a very late start, the 51 spellers, who converged at St. Gabriel Church Hall in the parish capital at various levels of anxiety, began spelling in earnest. Three boys were early casualties and, though this unnerved them, the well-behaved, quiet group prodded along.
At the end of the first round, 26 students had dropped out and the remaining 25 showed some spirit and challenged Spell Mistress Ivin Logan for the better part of an hour. The boys were no match for the girls and in the end 10-year-old Champion Boy Mario Williams barely made it in the top five and had to settle for fifth position.
Othneil Blagrove, OMNI representative of NCB, May Pen, presented him with a gift certificate. Joy-Ann Ellis of Hazard Primary, now preparing for GSAT, took the fourth position; Chelton Glennister of May Pen Primary, third; and Sherika Chambers of Glenmuir Prep, who vows to be back next year, took the second spot.
It was a proud moment for Monymusk Prep School which was winning for the second consecutive year. A beaming Carmen Williams, teacher at the school, told The Gleaner that the school first entered the competition three years ago. A happy Donique said the studies and the loss of break and lunch time paid off.
Vaz Prep pulled a fabulous one-two win in the Kingston Parish Finals of the National Spelling Bee held yesterday afternoon at the Gleaner offices, 7 North Street, central Kingston. After the gruelling two-hour-and-15-minute contest, 10-year-old Javaughn Smith emerged Parish Champion and Champion Boy while his schoolmate, Toni-Ann Douglas, took the runner-up spot and Champion Girl honours.
The others in the top five were: Kristopher Samuels and Tamika Cameron of Mavisville Prep, who finished fifth and fourth, respectively, and Nicoy Downie of Jesse Ripoll Primary who placed third. Though he spelled very well, he had to be consoled as he broke down into tears after missing on "pecuniary".
"I feel splendid," said Javaughn after receiving his trophy, along with a gift certificate presented by Donna Clarke of National Commercial Bank. The grade six student said that he was confident of victory and hopes to give Vaz a national champion trophy. Though disappointed that she did not win, Toni-Ann said she was happy that her school had won.
The winning coach, Joyce Magnus, was elated and said that the victories were extra sweet because the school had finished second for the last three years.
The competition continues this morning at 10 o'clock, at the Phillipo Baptist Church, Spanish Town, central St. Catherine.
Sponsors of the Parish Finals are Bigga Soft Drinks, Kraft Foods, Tastee, Colgate Palmolive, NCB, Jamaica National, Sangsters Book Store Ltd. and VMBS.
Shernett Robinson &
Daviot Kelly
