Over two
evenings of high school semi-final spelling competitions, Cayman
Brac High
School took the lead in the first round, with Clifton Hunter High School
placing second.
Catherine
Tatum of Cayman Brac High was the top finisher, followed by classmate Joel
Gayle, and Gabriella David representing Clifton Hunter.
In the second
night of competition, John
Gray High
School’s Aliyah Linwood, who won the primary-level
nationals two years ago, took the top spot.
Christiana McMurdo
of Montessori by the Sea placed second in the semifinals, followed by Karisha
Mallari of Wesleyan
Christian Academy.
Indicative of
the tough competition, there was a tie for the fourth-place position between
Stephanie Christian, Finley McDougall and Emily Boyd.
Competitors
had to deal with brain-twisters like ‘ventriloquy,’ ‘nonchalant,’ and ‘referendum.’
And the young
spellers were supported by relatives, fellow students and school staff during
weeks of training and at the semifinals.
All of the students
who placed will face off during the 2 December finals.
For more than
25 years, the annual Lions Club of Grand Cayman Spelling Bee has been sponsored
jointly by the Lions Club of Grand Cayman and the Department of Education
Services. LIME Communications is also
one of the major corporate sponsors this year.
Prizes include
a laptop for the winner and trophies for the top three finishers.
Lions
President Donnell O’Sullivan, the club’s Youth Development and Outreach
Chairman Steve Surrey, and other uniformed members attended the competition.
DES was represented by teacher Jasmine Manoosingh and
Information and Communication Technology Specialist Mark Ray.
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