C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N: Sandithi Lewanda from Tamworth South Public School is the Premier’s Spelling Bee regional champion for Years 5 and 6. Photo: Barry Smith 130912BSC01
GRAFFITI and martyr were the words that won Sandithi Lewanda the seniors regional final of the Premier’s Spelling Bee at Nemingha Public School yesterday.
After six gruelling rounds of spelling the 61-strong competition was down to three students who had to spell words such as sagacious and apiary.
At that stage Eloise Fitzgerald from Gunnedah South and Liam Prouse from Blackville got stumped letting Sandithi take the coveted title of regional champion and move into the state final in Sydney.
Regional finals are being held across the state this week, with 857 public schools involved.
The Premier’s Spelling Bee was launched in 2004 as an initiative for primary students to focus on their spelling in a fun and competitive format.
This year there were 123,306 students involved in round one.
The junior section was won by Blake Morris from Tamworth Public who pipped Madison Roach of Kootingal with some superb spelling.
The Armidale seniors final was won by Ben Ridges from Martins Gully Public School, coincidentally enough on the word graffiti as well. The junior section was won by Rove Leske, also from Martins Gully, with the word besiege.
“It was a fun day, and I am just glad I got the final words right,” Sandithi said.
The state finals will be held on November 7 in Sydney and will be broadcast live on ABC radio.