The word was “amnesia.”

It served as the deciding factor in who took home the first place prize for PS 94’s annual Spelling Bee. And this year’s victor went to Fatima Ali, a 10-year-old, who leaped into the air after beating out classmate Dion Florencio in the tense competition. Aafreen Mamsa was not too far behind. She won third place.

“This will go in my trophy collection,” said Fatima, holding her trophy showing her first place ranking. Last year, Fatima placed third in the same spelling bee.

On top of spelling “amnesia,” Fatima also had to spell the word Dion misspelled. It was “precipitate.”

Fatima and Dion both went eleven rounds in the spelling bee that began with plenty of pomp for contestants and guests thanks to a catchy song by American Dream DT and Jon Cash, who make up rap duo The Skerdy Boyz, dubbed “The Time is Now”.

In the years since Nadine Clarke, formerly the PTA president and now the parent leader, established the competition, the spelling bee has become a highly-anticipated event for the Norwood school found on Kings College Place.

Clarke, along with Miriam Seminario, a school parent coordinator, have witnessed to the power of spelling bees.

“It’s the essence of education. Once you start learning how to spell you’re able to communicate better with your peers, anyone you encounter,” said Clarke, who started this 13 years ago with school principal Diane DaProcida’s blessing.

For Fatima, prepping for the spelling bee involved her mother bouncing off words to her mother, who had attended the spelling bee. Any words that she initially got wrong were recited again and again until she got right.

Dion, 10, soon joined her, explaining that his secret involved “just skimming through the book multiple times.” Dion’s mother was also on hand at the spelling bee. She was spotted sitting alongside Fatima’s mother, mouthing the words their children verbally recited.

Aafreen prepared with the help of her brother who memorized “a lot of words.” “I wrote them on flashcards,” said Aafreen, later adding, “Maybe next year I’ll get first place.”

The three winners were part of 26 contestants—some of whom were bilingual and in special education—who made it to the stage for the spelling bee after previously advancing in smaller spelling bee competitions held in each of the school’s fourth and fifth grade classes in December. Two students per class were chosen to participate in the spelling bee. Those who didn’t make it all the way to the end were given a round of applause and medal for their efforts, with assistant principal Keicha Bolden noting it’s not easy for a young person to stand on the stage before an auditorium full of contemporaries.

“They all feel empowered to get up on that stage and try and so that means more to me than anything,” said Bolden. “Spelling is a necessity in life. So this is a life skill for them. So it’s not about winning or losing it’s about being able to participate and understand that you know how to spell.”