If you ever need a good spell check, then look no further than our local kids, with students from Cardinia and Casey excelling at the State Spelling Bee final.
Held by Vicspell at Traralgon’s St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School on Tuesday 12 September, the state final pooled together the best of spelling competitions held from Mornington to Baw Baw Shire, right through to Gippsland.
The finals held four competitions for each year level from years 5 to 8.
Of all year levels, Casey and Cardinia students came either first or second.
For year 5, Audrey Buenaagua from Tulliallan Primary School in Cranbourne North was the champion and Eden Taylor from Bayles Regional Primary School was runner-up.
In year 6, Janya Parwani from Berwick Fields Primary School came second, with Mikaela Pascoe from Bayles Regional Primary taking fourth.
David Ockerse from St Thomas Aquinas College in Tynong took out the championship in the year 7 category.
While Santino Tommasi, also from St Thomas Aquinas College, was runner-up for the year 8s.
Winners Audrey and David each won a trophy and took home the two-volume set of the Oxford National Dictionary, presented by Patrick McNally from Oxford University Press who officiated the competition.
Vicspell noted a key element of the day was the geographic and scholastic diversity of the winners.
They also wished to acknowledge the support of sponsors, such as Bendigo Community Bank, Triangle Trophies, Oxford University Press, Officeworks and the generosity of the host schools.
Vicspell thanked St Paul’s in Traralgon for hosting, Patrick McNally for attending and officiating, the dedication of Vicspell member Norm McLennan, and parents for providing transport.
Most of all, Vicspell thanked the students who, without exception, took the successes and misspellings with grace.
