Seventy-five percent (75%) of the participants in yesterday’s Preliminary rounds of the ICBL National Junior Spelling Bee competition have made it into the Finals, setting the stage for a gripping and competitive Finals event. 

_{“Captain Bravo” played by Pedro Arthur motivating competitors before the start of the competition.}

The competitors were charged up for the Spelling Challenge after an inspiring and interactive session with “Captain Bravo,” played by Pedro Arthur, who whipped up their confidence levels at the start of the competition. 

_{Students and Teachers enjoying the confidence building routine delivered by “Captain Bravo”, Pedro Arthur.}

Fifty-nine (59) of the one hundred and seven (107) competitors qualified for the finals at the end of the first round by correctly spelling their first word, leaving forty-eight (48) students to use their second chance option. An additional twenty-one (21) competitors made it to the finals at the end of the second chance round, bringing the total number of finalists to eighty (80). 

Eleven (11) schools were successful in having all four of their students advance to the Finals. The top-performing schools were Luther Thorne Primary, West Terrace Primary, The People’s Cathedral Primary School, and Happy Vale Montessori. One hundred percent (100%) of the competitors from these schools succeeded on their first try. Luther Thorne and Happy Vale Montessori were also first-time competitors.

The highly anticipated ICBL National Spelling Bee Competition Finals will occur on October 27, 2023, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre at 10:00a.m. Prizes include two airline tickets to London on Virgin Atlantic, a laptop computer from Promotech, cash prizes from ICBL for the top four students, Staycations, adventures, lunches, and dinners from the tourism sector, and trophies for the top three students. The top three winning schools will receive cash prizes from ICBL, and the winning school will take home the perpetual plaque.