First graders begin the spelling bee.

The KKIS Project was asked to provide prizes for a Spelling Bee at the Rudolfo Menendez Primary School in the Nicte Ha neighborhood of Playa del Carmen. So, this morning we arrived with backpacks filled with school supplies, dinosaur dominos, playing cards, yo-yo’s and all kinds of art materials. Six grade levels would be competing and we provided first, second and third place winners of each grade with prizes.

There were pages and pages of words that the children had been studying. Three judges sat at a front table and called out a word for each child as he took the microphone, pronounced the word and then attempted to spell it including capital letters when appropriate and accent marks when needed. It was fun! There were two classes of every grade level, each represented by 3 or 4 students and they “spelled off” against each other.

Then the winners mounted a podium and were awarded prizes with admiring students, parents and faculty surrounding them. A rush came when they dismounted to discover what was concealed in those winning bags.

After the first three grades we moved on to older kids and more difficult words. It was a great day and KKIS was asked to please stay in touch with the school and help with next year’s math and science competitions also.

The winners, teachers and KKIS volunteers.