National Spelling Bee launches as PM invites kids to ‘test yourself’

The fourth annual Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee opens Monday as the PM rallies Australian kids to take part, as technology changes the world.

W-e-l-c-o-m-e was word of the day when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stopped by for an impromptu spelling quiz with excited kids at Nundah State School. The Brisbane students were armed with brightly coloured letters of the alphabet to help the PM launch the fourth annual Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee.

Mr Albanese said he was “so pleased” the free, online competition run by classroom news site Kids News was available to students across Australia, adding that the need for solid spelling skills was “timeless.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the fourth annual Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee with the help of Nundah State School students Rohan Bishnoi, 11, year 6; Matilda Sedgman, 8, year 3; Zoe Caporale, 10, year 5; Avhi Hejeebu, 11, year 6; and Evie Sedgman, 11, Year 6. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We live in an age when technology is constantly changing the way we communicate with each other, yet the importance of spelling is timeless,” he said.

“As you work to improve your spelling, you’re doing more than putting the right letters in the right order. You are building your literacy, strengthening your memory and improving your communication and comprehension skills. All of this will hold you in good stead, right through your life.”

Every one of the Bee’s previous national champions have been avid readers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took time out to read a children’s classic with Nundah State School students Avhi Hejeebu, 11, year 6; and Matilda Sedgman, 8, year 3, while visiting the school to launch the 2024 national school spelling challenge, run by classroom news site Kids News. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Albanese said the national spelling challenge was “a fun way to test yourself against the clock, against your classmates and against students your age all over our nation” – not to mention against the man himself.

National champions annually delight in testing the PM’s spelling during their grand prize private meeting at Parliament House. Reigning Years 3-4 winner Samuel Wright swiftly brought Mr Albanese undone last year with “Caesar”.

Fresh from his warm up with Nundah’s super spellers, Mr Albanese was up for the challenge.

“I look forward to meeting the winners later in the year,” he said. “Good luck.”

National champions in three age categories win a trip to Canberra for a private meeting with the Prime Minister, among other prizes. Mr Albanese was quizzed by the 2023 winners, years 3-4 (Green) champion Samuel Wright, years 5-6 (Orange) champion Abigail Koh and years 7-8 (Red) champion Zachary Cheng at Parliament House on November 13, 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Principal Rachel Korst said Nundah State School has been part of the previous three Bees “and will be again in 2024.”

“Students at Nundah are supported to read, write and spell at the levels they need to succeed through explicit (teaching)”, Ms Korst said.

“Our aim is for all students to be reading and writing at the levels they need to succeed, and to reach their potential. Many of our students look forward to this opportunity to challenge themselves”

Ms Korst said the Bee was another opportunity for the kids to share their “knowing gift” – one of ten gifts that the school weaves through learning and playing every day.

“We were honoured to have the Prime Minister visit our school, and to be part of the launch of the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee for 2024,” Ms Korst said.

News Corp Australia Community Ambassador Penny Fowler said it was a “fantastic” highlight for Kids News to welcome Australian students back to the Bee back for a fourth consecutive year. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

News Corp Australia’s community ambassador, Penny Fowler, said the PM’s Spelling Bee was an annual highlight for Kids News and that it was “fantastic to welcome it back for a fourth year”.

“We are passionate about educating future generations and we have now hosted 140,000 children across the nation keen to see how far they can stretch their vocabulary,” Mrs Fowler said.

“It is our only national spelling bee and one with a proven track record of getting kids excited by spelling and language, which are so important to their future success.”

Kids News editor Diana Jenkins acknowledged the importance of investing in children’s literacy within their increasingly digitally-dependent world.

“With the skyrocketing use of social media platforms by young people, we are providing kids with a digital way of engaging with traditional literacy pathways,” Ms Jenkins said.

“Spelling and literacy are foundational skills for everyday life. The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee offers a fun and friendly platform to encourage kids to develop these skills for a prosperous future.”

Registrations and the national school round open Monday 22 July at spelling-bee.com.au

Registrations and the national school round open Monday 22 July at spelling-bee.com.au

ABOUT THE BEE

● The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee is a free, online competition for students in Years 3-8.

● Teachers can register students from Monday 22 July, when the national school round begins.

● The school round ends on Friday 23 August. State and territory finals will be held September 2 to September 6 and the national finals on September 11-12.

● Students compete at their school in three levels: Green level for Years 3-4, Orange level for Years 5-6 and Red level for Years 7-8.

● They get 30 randomly selected words from their competition level and have 25 seconds to type each answer. The students with the most correct words in the fastest time progress to finals.

● The national champion in each age group wins a trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, an iPad, HarperCollins book pack and a $1000 voucher for their school.

Details: spelling-bee.com.au

The fourth annual Prime Minister's Spelling Bee opens Monday 22 July – it’s going to BEE b-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t!