After hard work ... she finally won

Enthusiasm and jubilation swept the Sean Lavery Faith Hall like a contagious disease last Friday evening. There were cheers, screams and hugs aplenty from a gracious winner, an exuberant champion boy and an ecstatic school society.

In what turned out to be the most adrenaline-driven spelldown in The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee parish finals so far this year, Justine Brooks placed first ahead of Safari Mosha in Westmoreland. The victory was rendered even sweeter for the fact that both spellers, 11 and nine years old, respectively, were from the same school, New Horizon Preparatory.

The school, which had come closest to victory with fourth-place showings on two previous occasions, was convinced their luck was about to change.

"We realised that something was gonna happen special for us today," said coach Adrian McDonald, whose youthful appearance could cause him to be mistaken for one of the spellers.

In fact, the 21-year-old had stood before spellmistress Ivin Logan just 10 years ago while a student at Petersfield Primary, only to be undone by a 'four-letter word' - K-E-E-L.

Since then, McDonald has sought to gain redemption in his own eyes and those of his coach who sat in the audience on Friday.

"I put so much work into them and also the family and friends, and thanks be to God; what would I do without Him? Trust me, I prayed and I prayed and I prayed."

Some praise, of course, was reserved for his charges. Justine, who had entered the competition before said she felt "great and relieved. After hard work ... I finally won", the well-spoken youngster related.

Nervous and confident

"I was nervous and confident both at the same time." A composed response from the female champ.

Safari was more robust in acknowledging his accomplishment.

When asked if he knew why he was being applauded, "Because I am the champion (a pause) boy for Westmoreland," he gushed.

It was the same enthusiasm with which friends and family gathered round the two champs, and with which the coach and school approached their preparation.

"We use different techniques - e-learning, (and) we build DVDs so that they see it, record it so that they hear it. Everything they do is being constantly hammered into their heads."

McDonald had nothing but praises for The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition.

"I thank you guys for this programme. It is wonderful. The kids at our school are just so enthused about spelling bee. We have kids from grade one wanting to learn all these big words ... . The spelling bee opens a wave of opportunity in terms of literacy."

And he should know. Being a grade-four literacy teacher, McDonald said, at the end of the day he wanted his students to learn from the bee.

"I'm very much in tune with the literary aspect of learning. I try to ensure that they develop an understanding of each and every word (rather than engage in rote learning)", which may well have been the reason for his students emerging ahead of the 52 other spellers.

- T. M.

Top 5

1 Justine Brooks, New Horizon Prep

2 Safari Mosha, New Horizon Prep

3 Courtly Fletcher, Broughton Primary

4 Ramesh Reid, Unity Primary

5 Javed Richardson, Frome Preparatory