Youth urged to sign up for spelling bee

The call has gone out for potential young Nova Scotia participants to sign up for this year’s Spelling Bee of Canada competition.

Students from the province excelled at last year’s national competition with then 14-year-old Ryaan Khan from Bedford winning the top spot in the intermediate division of the spelling contest. It was only his first year registered in the event.

Another Nova Scotian who competed at the national level was Halifax student Rabita Rida, who took part in the primary division, made up of kids ages six to eight.

Nimra Fatima, the Spelling Bee of Canada’s chapter president for Nova Scotia, is now encouraging even more students from other parts of the province to get involved.

“Last year we had so many winners,” says Fatima, who organizes the regional contest for Atlantic Canada. “Nova Scotia shined at the nationals so that gives me more of a boost that we should be continuing to do this and encourage more people to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The deadline to sign up for this spring’s Spelling Bee of Canada is Jan. 31 so parents and students who are interested are encouraged to act quickly.

Registering online is simple as contestants simply need to select a package on the Spelling Bee of Canada website based on the benefits that would “provide your child the most enriching online learning experience.” Those packages range in price and include a variety of study guides, webinar, a certificate of registration and confirmation of participation.

“With over 70,000 students having participated in the Spelling Bee of Canada to date, we continue confidently forward in our goal to expand across Canada and assist in educating both Canadian and international students,” says Dr. Nagina Parmer, president of the Spelling Bee of Canada, in an email.

She notes the Spelling Bee of Canada is less about the competition than it is about giving children a chance to participate in the education process and celebrate academic achievement.

“(We) remain focused on the development and expansion of our students’ grammar, vocabulary and literacy skills,” she continues.

As a mother who has seen her own children compete in the Spelling Bee of Canada, Fatima agrees the competition is more than just being crowned the winner.

“They are going to come out very much a different person; they will be learning so much,” she says, noting that, in addition to building on their vocabulary, students will learn to better their study skills.

“This is something that would be complimentary to their school education (and) it will help in time management as well,” continues Fatima. “And, of course, when they have to appear for the inperson competition then they will develop their self-confidence because they will be facing an audience and they would be required to go up to the stage and speak.”

A registered not-for-profit organization, the Spelling Bee of Canada has remained focused on providing Canadian youth between the ages of six and 14 — as well as their parents and teachers — the opportunity to improve their English language, comprehension and communication skills.

“When I see my children get better at what they are doing, that motivates me to keep continuing to volunteer for this organization,” says Fatima of the success of the spelling bee. “We say every participant is a winner just by participating.”

For more information on the Spelling Bee of Canada, visit www.spellingbeeofcanada.ca