Laila Small and Aleque-Benjamin Bennett emerged as Cayman’s top primary and secondary school spellers last week at the 24th Department of Education Services (DES) Primary Spelling Bee and the 38th Lions Club of Grand Cayman Secondary Spelling Bee Championships, respectively.

Ten-year-old Laila, who attends Red Bay Primary School, emerged winner of the Primary School Spelling Bee on Tuesday (23 November) during the second round of the competition held at the John Gray High School Gymnasium. She received an iPad, the coveted Spelling Bee trophy, and other prizes courtesy of the DES.

Zavian Roman of Creek & Spot Bay Primary placed second. Nalanie Palacios of Theoline McCoy Primary School and Edna Moyle Primary School’s Danique Boyd tied for third place out of the 25 students from public and private schools across the Cayman Islands that participated in the competition.

On Wednesday (24 November), Clifton Hunter High School student Aleque-Benjamin Bennett won the secondary school championship, held at the Lions Centre, after four exciting rounds. He received a laptop and other prizes courtesy of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.

John Gray High School’s Jaedon Hanson placed second while Layman E Scott’s Aryan Champawat and Jade Robinson of St. Ignatius Catholic High School tied for third place.

Spelling Bee organiser, DES Acting Customer Services Manager Mrs. Gloria Bell, expressed her delight in the competitors’ performance throughout this year’s competition.

“This year’s Spelling Bee is a testament to the strength and resilience of our students, schools and community. With all of the changes and challenges we are currently facing, we were excited to be able to gather and engage in lively competition.”

Lions Club of Grand Cayman’s Georgia Harding, Chairperson for the secondary school Spelling Bee, concurred. “We are particularly pleased with the turnout, the support and the resilience of the students who were able to push through despite the pandemic and participate in this year’s competition to make it a success.”

Ms. Harding added, “The Lions Club of Grand Cayman is proud to have partnered with the DES for the past 38 years for this amazing competition.”