Learning is at the core of the Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee Competition. For over 60 years, we have worked to create an experience that fosters development in academia, self-confidence and national pride.
The Spelling Bee event is executed at 2 levels, the parish and national level. At the parish finals, children 13 years and younger, engage in a heated spell-off against their friends and fellow parish natives for the title of 'Parish Champion'. These fourteen winners then advance to the national level.
Three months later, the parish champions convene for a rigorous 3 day competition for the coveted title of "National Spelling Bee Champion".
A spelling bee is a competition in which contestants compete in spelling a variety of words in English based on different levels of difficulty. If a word is spelt incorrectly, that speller must leave the game until one person is left.
Children below the ages of 13 may enter the competition. They must be a registered student and a Jamaican national. No more than 2 students from a particular institution are allowed to register.
Once registered each speller is provided with a coach and a spelling guide. Students compete within their parishes and the winner of each parish moves forward to nationals where the parishes will compete for a winner.
The winner and coach would receive prize money. The champion speller would also receive a collection of goodies from our sponsors, books, credit and much more. Each parish winner would receive a certificate of participation. In the past, the winner of the National finals would be fully funded to compete in Scripps annual National Spelling Bee competition held in Washington D.C. however, COVID-19 pandemic has postponed this event.