The 90-degree heat last Wednesday didn’t put a damper on PS 94’s 3rd Annual Spelling Bee.

Twenty-four fourth and fifth graders sat on the auditorium stage wearing blue sashes and number tags waiting to see who among them would become the Norwood school’s next spelling champ.

The school’s auditorium was filled with students, teachers, families and friends, all there to cheer on the participants.

The announcer began with the word “dreadful.” Students who misspelled words slowly began to exit the stage, leaving only 12 students at the end of round one.

Six rounds later, only three students remained. Ultimately, fourth grader Tasmia Kabi spelled the word “knowledge” correctly making her PS 94’s spelling champion.

Amazed, Tasmia received a trophy and a gold sash. Second place winner Athar Abdullah  and third place winner Ismail Mastafa both received white sashes and trophies.

“I felt shocked,” said Tasmia. “I only have one trophy and that was for a book report. This is my second trophy so it feels good.”

Words such as “vaccine” and “technology” challenged the children. Some students quietly spelled the words while others cringed at the sound of their friends misspelling them. All cheered supportively at the end of each round.

“The best part of the spelling bee is that we try our best,” said Amanda Tille, a fourth grader who lasted until round five. “We studied hard and I’m going to try again next year.”

“I feel good winning second place,” said Athar. “I studied every day right until the end. I couldn’t have done it without my parents’ help and my friends who cheered me on.”

Parent Nadine Hickson and parent coordinator Miriam Seminario have organized the spelling bee for the past three years, with the help of various sponsors including Ridgewood Savings Bank, Solco Plumbing Supply Co. and Clog-Away Sewer and Drain Corp. 

“This is all about their courage,” said Diane DaProcida, principal of P.S. 94. “For them to get up in front of 300 people and do what they did takes a lot. I am very proud of them.”

“Events like this are a great opportunity for kids to encounter confidence and to work on their self esteem,” said parent Ruth Tille. “They learn that if they work hard for something, they can achieve it.”