Dehaiden Baadjies was crowned winner of the first spelling bee competition held at the Steenvliet Library recently. <\/p>\n
The 11-year-old learner of Steenvliet Primary School in Touwsrivier won first place in both the Afrikaans and English categories. Jamy-Leigh Kokrani took second place. The competition, the first of its kind in Touwsrivier, featured learners from two local primary schools, Steenvliet and Touwsrivier. <\/p>\n
It aimed to help learners understand Afrikaans and English better and to improve their vocabulary. In an exclusive interview, Dehaiden, who dreams of becoming a chartered accountant, shared that it wasn\u2019t an easy experience but that his confidence and determination helped him to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a little anxious at first, but I improved and became more at ease with each round. I\u2019m thrilled to have won this competition because it was my goal. The tasks I completed today helped me understand my strengths and areas for improvement in my reading and language skills,\u201d said Dehaiden. <\/p>\n
This was his first time competing in a spelling bee, and he is expected to defend his title next year. <\/p>\n
Jamy-Leigh Kokrani, who will turn 12 next weekend, saw her achievement as an early birthday present. \u201cAs a shy person, it wasn\u2019t easy to stand in front of a crowd, but I am glad I managed to overcome my anxiety. I\u2019m happy to be among the winners, and I\u2019m grateful to my teachers and everyone behind this wonderful event,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Steenvliet librarian Namhla Mfana praised the competition\u2019s success, highlighting the active involvement of her colleagues and Yeboneers. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a team we are delighted with the competition\u2019s outcomes,\u201d she explained, \u201cand we believe it will get better each year. \u201cThe initiative was not only about improving learners\u2019 vocabulary; it was also about developing their cognitive abilities and basic reading skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mfana believes such competitions are essential for promoting a reading culture in schools, especially in disadvantaged areas such as Touwsrivier. <\/p>\n
Next year she plans to start a reading competition to make reading fun and encourage more learners to improve their reading skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dehaiden Baadjies was crowned winner of the first spelling bee competition held at the Steenvliet Library 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