STUDENTS of Khalsa schools in Surrey (Newton Campus, and Old Yale Road Campus) performed exceptionally well in this year’s BC Regional Spelling Bee. There were 163 contestants from 27 schools (public and private) of B.C.

This year, BC was divided into two regions and the competitions were held on April 2 and April 9 for BC Region 1 and BC Region 2, respectively, in Khalsa School’s auditorium. Sponsors, local community leaders, parents, grandparents, teachers and administrators observed the championship on both days. The winners received cash awards, trophies, medals and certificates plus the appreciation from the audience.

The competitions were very tough as the words were very difficult for young children to spell.

The BC Champions (all those in first place in the various categories) will now compete in the Spelling Bee of Canada Championship on May 7 in Toronto.

BC Region 1 (April 2)

Primary Category:

1. Simran Kaur Sandhu (Khalsa School, Newton Campus) – BC Champion
2. Afsana Dosanjh (Guru Angad Dev Elementary School)
3. Gurnoor K. Turna (Khalsa School, Newton Campus)
4. Jacob Manky (Hyland Elementary School, Surrey)
5. Michelle Kucherenko (Vancouver Talmud Torah Elementary School)
6. Selena Chahal (Khalsa School, Newton Campus)

Junior Category:

1. Kaden Phi (Sir Mathew Begbie Elementary School, Vancouver) – BC Champion
2. Abhay S. Chahal (Khalsa School Newton Campus)
3. Idan Chinnik (Diefenbaker Elementary School, Richmond)
4. Subhreet Kaur Gill (Guru Angad Dev Elementary School)
5. Nikita Sequeira (Saint Joseph Elementary School)
6. Danya K. Sangha (Khalsa School, Newton Campus)

Intermediate Category:

1. Praneet Singh Arora (Khalsa School, Newton Campus) – BC Champion
2. Prabhleen Kaur Sandhu (Holly Cross Secondary School, Surrey)
3. Avi Maru (St. George’s Elementary School, Vancouver)
4. Harleen K.Khosa (Khalsa School, Newton Campus)
5. Arsh Sandhu (Ecole Kwantlen Park Secondary School, Surrey)
6. Harlisha Kaur Virk (Khalsa School, Newton Campus)

BC Region 2 (April 9)

Primary Category:

1. Veerpartap Singh Grewal (Grade 2, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) – BC Champion
2. Armaan Singh Ghai (Grade 2, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)
3. Japjot Singh (Grade 1, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)
4. (tie) Hartaj S. Aujla (Grade 3, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)
5. (tie) Anahad Hundal (Grade 3, Guru Angad Dev Elementary School)
6. Anna Abraham (Grade 3, Emily Carr Elementary School)

Junior Category:

1. Maanyia Dinesh Sadarangani (Grade 5, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) (Joined Khalsa School as an international student from Dubai) – BC Champion
2. Keerat K. Khanna (Grade 6, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) (Arrived in Canada last year with her parents as a new immigrant)
3. Mavneet K.Bhuller (Grade 5, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)
4. Sumeen Kaur Dhaliwal (Grade 6, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)
5. Prabhnoor Kaur Grewal (Grade 4, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)
6. Parleen Kaur Uppal (Grade 4, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)

Intermediate Category:

1. Mehar Kaur Sahota (Grade 7, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) (She won the Spelling Bee of Canada Championship in 2015 and was second place in 2016 in Toronto. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​She is Vice President of her school’s Student Council) – BC Champion
2. Amrit Kaur (Grade 7, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) (She is President of her school’s Student Council)
3. (tie) Anantchahat Kaur Sandhu (Grade 7, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) (She is Co-Vice President of her school’s Student Council)
4. (tie) Manraj Kaur Grewal (Grade 9, Khalsa Secondary School)
5. Jaskirat S. Gill (Grade 7, Guru Angad Dev Elementary School)
6. Amandeep Kaur Manan (Grade7, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus) (She is Co-Treasurer of her school’s Student Council)

(Information courtesy of  Kamalpreet Kaur Baga, BC Chapter President, Spelling Bee of Canada, and Principal, Khalsa School, Old Yale Road Campus)