Young bees create a buzz in Linstead
Published:Wednesday | June 29, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer
LINSTEAD, St Catherine:
SIX-YEAR-OLD Aaron Ellis of Kidds Basic School in Deeside is the Kiwanis Club of Linstead 2011 Spelling Bee champion. He is also the first recipient of the inaugural Loretta Henry Scholarship valued at $5,000.
Five-year-old Kaysie-Ann Barrows of Little People in Training Basic School copped second place, and was crowned champion female speller. Michael Gordon and Alex Clouson of Seventh-day Baptist Early Childhood Institution were third and fourth, respectively, in the contest held at the Linstead Methodist Church hall, recently.
It was the first time since entering the competition, which began in 2004, that Kidds Basic School was taking home the Ashley Gayle trophy. Merva Buchanan, principal, was ecstatic.
"I am feeling really good. It's exciting and the exposure is good for the children. Our children usually place in the top five. This year we are really happy that we won," she told The Gleaner.
Teacher elated
Like Buchanan, Kaysie-Ann Barrows' coach, Lacien Smith-Chambers, teacher at Little People in Training, was elated.
"I am feeling great. I am feeling really happy and I'd feel even much better if she was the overall winner," Smith-Chambers smiled. "Kaysie-Ann is shy, but it did not really show up much this evening and I'm really grateful to God for all of that," she said, adding that her students have been placing in the top three each year.
The annual Spelling Bee competition is part of the Kiwanis Club's Young Children Priority One project, which focuses on providing assistance for basic schools in Linstead and its environs.
President Frank Henry told The Gleaner that schools have been responding positively to the competition.
"Last year, we saw where parents and teachers were excited and our winner this year is actually a speller from last year. He was going on well and he fumbled … and he came back this year to win. So it's not only the parents and teachers, but the students themselves actually want to win," Henry explained.
Since it was established in 1980, the Kiwanis Club of Linstead has undertaken a number of projects, including meals on wheels, which caters to street people.