“Terrell, how many territorial representatives are there in the British Virgin Islands?” Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre student Terrell Harrigan was asked at the school’s third annual Spelling Bee and General Knowledge Competition on Tuesday.
“Quinton Mills, name two natural sources of energy,” a competition judge asked.
“Sun and wind,” the student answered.
The special needs students would go on to win the top two positions at the end of the contest, during which most of the students in the school answered questions that tested their literacy, numeracy, comprehension skills and general knowledge.
Lorna Dawson, programme director of disability services at the Social Development Department, said that special needs should never deter students from competing publicly.
“I think it is very good that they are doing the programme with the students,” Ms. Dawson said as she observed the competition. “People may think this is a special needs school and they can’t compete, but they’ve done it for three years now.”
See the March 12, 2015 edition for full coverage.
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