Winners of the Otago Daily Times Extra! Spelling Quiz last
night (left to right) Malcolm Elderton, Nathan Williams and
Naomi Morton, from Waimate High School. Photo by O'Neill
In a war of the words, Waimate High School took the top
spot in the
Otago Daily Times Extra! Central South
Island quiz in Timaru last night.
The Timaru Boys High School hall was buzzing for the year 9
and 10 competition, which featured a flawless performance by
a trio from Waimate, who had gained full points by round six
of the competition.
The team scored 95 out of 100 possible points, and was
awarded a plaque, some book vouchers and a gold medal.
Year 9 students Naomi Morton, Nathan Williams and Malcolm
Elderton beat 33 other teams, which had come from nine
schools from the region between Rakaia and Oamaru. In second
place, with 92 points, was Ashburton College.
Craighead Diocesan School and Geraldine High School tied for
third with 92 points each.
The pupils competed in 10 rounds which involved spelling,
word usage, writing out meanings of abbreviations, dictionary
skills, root words and word endings, discovering mystery
words with the five clues provided and matching words with
their country of origin.
Naomi said the quiz had been quite difficult.
"It was really nerve-racking at the end, but we worked really
hard," she said.
Waimate High School English teacher Jennifer Rodokal was
impressed with the pupils' concentration.
"They are amazing me. We cheered before and not one of them
looked up because they were so focused."
Naomi's mother, Miriam Morton, also won a prize, scoring full
marks in the audience quiz for parents and supporters.
"It's good to know I've still got it," she said.
Organiser of the event and editor of Extra!, Ivan
Behrnes, said the quiz was challenging.
"It's just tough enough to sort out the cream of the crop."
He said the pupils' knowledge was excellent.
"One team was on maximum points by halfway through. The
standard improves from year to year."
The quiz was a part of the ODT Class Act programme,
which supports education in schools.
Extra! is a curriculum-based publication which
provides school pupils with the opportunity to have their
work read by their peers from the 250 subscribing schools.
Quizzes are held in Timaru, Christchurch, Dunedin and Oamaru.
- Cerisse Denhardt
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