The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee returns!

The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee, the most anticipated children’s competition, begins its journey across the island with the parish contest in St Thomas on September 26.

In association with JN Bank, The Gleaner’s Children’s Own provides students with the opportunity to display their English language skills, win prizes, and represent their respective parishes at the National Championship in 2023.

Dr Clive Lai, who, over decades, has transitioned from speller, to coach, to spellmaster, and word-list expert, quipped: “Having BEEn BEE-sieged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has BEE-fallen us for the past two years, we BEE-moan the fact that we are BEE-hind in our Spelling BEE programme.

“However, we BEE-lieve that we can BEE-gin the BEE-hemoth task of taking the BEE to and BEE-yond never-BEE-fore-seen heights this year,” he added.

Lai joins Marline Stephenson-Dalley and Jean Paul Menou in guiding spellers through the competition.

The Spelling Bee is Jamaica’s longest-running educational competition, attracting hundreds of spellers across the island each year.

All participants in this year’s Bee will be required to follow strict COVID-19 protocols. Returning sponsors include JN Bank, Sangster’s Book Stores, and the JTA Co-operative Credit Union. Joining them so far are Little Caesars and Massy Distribution.

All students aged 14 years and younger who have not passed grade nine may enter the competition this year. They must register at go-jamaica.com/spellingbeefinals indicating their date of birth, school’s name, coach’s name, and contact number. Registrations close on Wednesday, September 14, 2022!

The date and time of each parish final is being published in The Gleaner, THE STAR, and The Children’s Own (print & digital editions).

Contact the team at spellingbee@rjrgleaner.com or 876-922-3400 ext. 6034 for further details.