Schools shine in spelling bee

ALFRED Stamper Primary School in Worcester has come out tops in the Provincial Xhosa Spelling Bee.

The event was held last week at Stellenbosch University, where 58 schools competed. The initiative is part of the Department of Basic Education’s bid to create a culture of reading.

Children in Grades 4 and 6 were selected to participate.

One of the pupils, Siwaphi Skomolo (Grade 6), won the spelling bee.

She walked away with prizes including R1 000 in cash, a Xhosa dictionary, cellphone and trophy.

She is preparing to take part in the national competition later this year.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Education Department said Pinelands North Primary School was placed in the top three of the World’s Best School Prizes by T4 Education.

In June, the school was announced as one of the top 10 finalists in the category Overcoming Adversity.

The school’s inclusive environment and recognition of their learners’ unique needs and potential caught the eye of the T4 Education judges.

Premier Alan Winde said: “Pinelands North has made the Western Cape and South Africa proud. To have made it to the finals of the Overcoming Adversity category was a huge achievement.

“This reflects the hard work of the school’s educators, staff, school governing body and learners.”

Ann Morton, principal of Pinelands North Primary, said: “We are the top school in South Africa; out of 300 000 schools across the world that entered this competition, we are proud to come in the top three.”