Bungendore Public School student Christina Hood has won the largest spelling bee in the country, topping more than 136,000 students from more than 940 NSW schools for the title of Premier’s Spelling Bee senior division winner for 2016.
In the Sydney finals, the Year 6 student correctly spelled marquee, skillet, symmetry, slough, congruent, harpsichord, desperado, fictitious, enchilada, segue and expeditious.
As NSW State Champion, Christina received a gold medallion, Macquarie dictionary and Scrabble board game and will be acknowledged along with her school on a perpetual trophy.
Bungendore Public School spelling bee coach Kerry Forman said Christina was fourth time lucky to the win, after gaining selection to represent the school at the regional finals since she was in Year 3.
“Christina’s practice word in the warm up round of the state final was ‘smart’, a word that could aptly describe Christina,” Ms Forman said.
More than 3500 students progressed through to the regional finals with only 86 students earning a spot in the state final.
The Premier’s Spelling Bee was launched in 2004 as an initiative to improve the literacy of public school students.
Premier Mike Baird, who extended his congratulations to all students who have participated in the 2016 NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee, said the competition provided an opportunity for students across NSW to learn new words and explore the English language in both an interesting and challenging way.
“Spelling is the cornerstone of literacy, and as such, the spelling bee is invaluable in promoting the development of skills necessary for clear communication,” Mr Baird said.
“It encourages students to embrace a love of spelling, and in turn, a love of reading, which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
