September 24, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 30, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: The contests for the national championship of the 3rd Dawn In Education Spelling Bee concluded at the Islamabad Club auditorium on Saturday.

Sakeena Shah of Bahria College (girls wing), Karachi; Ralph Martins of the St Patrick’s High School, Karachi, and Iman Aziz Akhtar of Khaldunia High School, Islamabad, emerged as the national champions in the 15-17, 12-14 and nine-11 age groups, respectively.

The competitions had started on Wednesday with the finals between schools from Islamabad and nearby cities.

In the 15-17 age category, Zainab Fatima Arian of EMS High School, Islamabad, and Sanaa Bajwa of Lacas (girls branch), Karachi, were declared the first and second runners-up for the national championship.

Amna Memon of Preparatory School, Islamabad, in the 12-14 age category, remained first runner-up, while Haneen Khalid from Headstart School, Islamabad, was declared the second runner-up.

In the national championship nine-11 age category, Amna Pirzada of Preparatory School, Islamabad, won the first runner-up and Zainab Arif of Resource Academia, Lahore, the second runner-up positions.

On Friday, Nabeel Farhat of the EMS High School, Islamabad, became the city champion by outclassing his peers in the 15-17 age category contests.

Ms Zainab and Fatima Wain of the EMS High School, Islamabad, shared the first runner-up position, while Hassan Hamid of the AIMS Education System, Islamabad, was declared the second runner- up.

One hundred and eighty students from 60 schools participated in this age category.

The third national spelling bee started here on Wednesday. A total of 200 teams from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities including Dera Ishmael Khan, Peshawar, Sargodha, Attock, Chakwal, Swat, Kharian, Abbottabad, Murree, Kohat, Mangla and Azad Kashmir are participating in the 9-11, 12- 14 and 15-17 age categories.

The purpose of spelling bees is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. As a result, they learn more effectively and score higher on standardised test and college prep tests and beyond. The impact lasts a lifetime.

Children learn the etymology of words, the country of origin, meanings of prefixes and suffixes and spelling rules, said a teacher who had accompanied his students to the contest.

By studying words grouped in thematic categories, spellers not only acquire knowledge but also develop cognitive skills and increased understanding of ideas and values. Students develop cultural and intellectual literacy.