JA in US spelldown

All Island Spelling Bee Champion, Rhea Braithwaite is Washington-bound where she will represent Jamaica in the US Scripps Howard Spelling Bee competition next week. Her trip is sponsored by the Gleaner company, Sangsters Book Store and Air Jamaica. She is about to board an Air Jamaica flight at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston yesterday.

ARDENNE HIGH School student Rhea Braithwaite, 13, the 2000 Children's Own Spelling Bee Champion is in the US capital preparing to do battle in the 73rd renewal of the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee competition next week.

New rules sidelined Jamaica last year following a scintillating performance by Jody-Ann Maxwell to win the competition in 1998. However, boosted by new sponsorship, a Jamaican is again set to match wits with more than 200 spellers.

Just before boarding the Air Jamaica aircraft, the soft spoken teenager, dressed in beige blouse and jeans, admitted she was nervous. Clutching a folder to her chest, the bespectacled youngster said, "Right now I feel nervous, but I feel confident that I can do it. I am prepared."

Rhea was accompanied by mother, Rosanne, father, Chelston, brother, Andre and Spelling Bee coach/Ardenne teacher, Rev. Glen Archer. Two representatives of major sponsoring organisations, Karin Daley, in charge of overseas publications and product development at The Gleaner, and Air Jamaica public relations officer, Patrice DaCosta, completed the team. Sangster's Bookstores is the other sponsor.

"We're very confident because we know that she worked really hard, and with that level of work she's putting in now, we feel confident that she will do her best," a smiling Rosanne Braithwaite said.

The preliminary rounds will be on Tuesday, and the spell down takes place at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel, Washington D.C. Wednesday and Thursday.

Rev. Archer, who coached Jody-Ann to victory was also confident.

"We are going to keep a low profile and trust in God and expect the best performance." he said. "All we ask her to do is to do her best and keep focused. God will do the rest. We have worked meticulously, given the short time we had to prepare," he noted.

"Because of the Gleaner's commitment to literacy and education, Scripps Howard offered us the sponsorship opportunity," Miss Daley explained. She underscored the company's long association with the Spelling Bee, which it pioneered 41 years ago, through its Children's Own publication.

Last June, an agreement was reached between the organisers of the Scripps Howard and the Gleaner Company Limited, which resulted in the return of Jamaican spellers. The Gleaner was named official sponsor for Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Jamaica. The Spelling Bee finals, traditionally held in the summer was moved to February, to satisfy Scripps Howard rules. Jamaican competed in Scripps Howard competitions in 1997 and 1998 through the sponsorship of Phillips and Phillips, local stationery suppliers.

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