Five schools braved the heavy rain to participate in the annual Inter-Primary Schools’ Spelling Bee which was held on Wednesday, 24 May 2024 at the Morris Vanterpool Primary School’s auditorium. A two-student team was fielded by each school. Adrian T Hazell Primary School (ATHPS) presented Amara Charlery and Fatima Salouane. Orealia Kelly Primary School (OKPS) were represented by Shae Wills and Kylan Harrigan (both participated in the 2023 competition). Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School (AARPS) chose an entirely new team with Erin-Louisse Ordiales and Yaretzi Michel–Morales, while Valley Primary School went with a mix of new and old, represented by Keiyon Browne and Selim Williams (the latter took part in 2023). Hosts, Morris Vanterpool Primary School, also had a mixed team, comprised of newcomer, Dan Castang, and a repeat from 2023, Anaya Gillis.
The 2024 competition was closely fought but Alwyn Alison Richardson Primary School’s 175 points were enough to snatch the championship home to the West, away from Orealia Kelly Primary School which had taken the crown in 2023 but had to settle for second place this year with 170 points. Morris Vanterpool Primary School took third place with 119 points. Valley Primary School and Adrian T. Hazell Primary School placed fourth and fifth respectively with a one-point difference; 105 points to VPS and 104 to ATHPS.
Unsurprisingly, this year’s Best Speller with a top score of 89 was Yaretzi Michel–Morales from Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School.
The annual Inter-Primary Schools’ Spelling Bee competition which is in its 31st year was sponsored by FLOW. FLOW provided gift bags worth USD$100 to all participants. The Best Speller won an Apple iPad, and the students from AARPS, the winning school, won a USD$550 Lenovo laptop each for first place. The OKPS team members won a USD$350 Samsung tablet for second place while ATHPS team members won a USD$200 Samsung A05 handset each for third place.
The Department of Education extended warm gratitude to FLOW’s for its stellar corporate support and thanked all DOE staff who helped to make the event a success, as well as vendors who provided services and the parents and supporters who came out to encourage their teams and contributed to the wholesome rivalry.
The public is invited to look out for the Anguilla Day Quiz which will be held next Wednesday, 29th May 2024 at 6:00pm at the Morris Vanterpool Primary School auditorium in East End.
