Sixth grader Leslie Cabrera of Saipan Community School came out as the best speller during this year’s All-CNMI Spelling Bee Contest that gathered 26 participants.<\/p>\n
Zoe Vanhavre-Haigh from Whispering Palms came second. Carolyn Fitial, representing Mount Carmel School, placed third.<\/p>\n
Coordinator Jennifer Ellis, who was a member of the board of judges, said the contest presented a whole range of words. “Some words were challenging and a lot of them were unfamiliar,” she said.<\/p>\n
Cabrera, who dreams of becoming a writer and loves to read Shakespeare, spelled the difficult words with ease. She acknowledged the help of her coach Jill Cummings and brother Kevin, whom she spent time reviewing.<\/p>\n
Schools which fielded in contestants include, Calvary Christian Academy, Eucon International School, Garapan, Gregorio T. Camacho, Grace Christian, Koblerville , Saipan International, William S. Reyes and Tanapag.<\/p>\n
Winners and non-winners can all go to Guam to represent the CNMI, according to Garapan School Principal John Babauta, this year’s host.<\/p>\n
“If 12 schools can go, then we will have 12 representatives,” he said. “But the winner from Saipan Community School has very good chances.”<\/p>\n
The regional contest is scheduled on March 20 and all schools are invited to send representatives provided they pay everything, he said.<\/p>\n
With this year’s tight budget, the Public School System can no longer shoulder the expenses, he said.<\/p>\n
Saipan Community School principal Ron Smith said its current fund-raising projects will benefit the school athletic team and the multi-purpose center, but “we might be able to have money to send her.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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