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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 20, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Spelling Bee contestants busy as bees By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Triskaidekaphobia. Most of us probably didn't even know that word existed, let alone how to spell it. "It's a really long word, but I can spell it," said Abdul Hadee Lone, who then effortlessly rhymed off the word ­ it means fear of the number 13. Abdul is 9 years old. He wasn't reading from the dictionary. The Grade 4 Captain R. Wilson student means business when it comes to spelling ­ he's vying to be this year's regional spelling bee champion. Second place in his age group last year, Abdul will have more to contend with in 2007. Saturday April 28 marks the date of Oakville's biggest bee yet. "It used to be 30, 40 students signing up, never 200 like we have this year," said local chapter bee president, Carol Verasamy. "It's a lot more competitive. There's a lot more kids, and they're more prepared. It's going to be very exciting." In light of the 20th anniversary of the Spelling Bee of Canada and the heightened popularity and buzz around bees recently, The Oakville Beaver sat down with a GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER SPELL CHECKERS: Busy preparing for the Oakville Spelling Bee are some of last year's winners and a few new competitors, (l-r) Abdul Hadee Lone, Ryan Beshara,Vivian Leung, Rachel Verasamy, Jordy Verasamy and Eric Youssab. group of spellers to find out why student said, smiling. "It's a lot more competitive. they're competing, what they're Rachel is in the primary cateThere's a lot more kids, and doing to prepare, and how they gory with spellers ages 6-8. Abdul think they'll do at the regional will compete in junior for those they're more prepared. It's bee. ages 9 ­ 11, and there's also an going to be very exciting." Seven-year-old Rachel intermediate category for spellers Verasamy is confident she'll win it between 12 and 14. Carol Verasamy, all. The basics of a bee are that a Oakville Spelling Bee And why? panel of judges will read each Chapter president "I got an A in spelling," the speller a word. Spell it wrong and Grade 2 Oakville Christian School you're out. Get it right, the bell ADVERTORIAL rings and you move on to the next round. The last speller standing is the champion, and receives a cash prize, trophy and berth to the provincial bee. Jordy Verasamy knows how that feels. The 11-year-old edged Abdul in the junior regional final last year. Abdul misspelled `Nobly.' "It was great," Jordy recalled. "You hear him say that word wrong, and you feel like a door just opened. You get that next word right, and you get that feeling like, `I won, I won!' "You hear that ding," Jordy continued, referring to the bell that rings when a word is properly spelled, "and then it's just elation." You won't hear many 11-yearolds tell you they're elated. Excited, maybe. That expanded vocabulary is just one of the reasons last year's intermediate champion, Vivian Leung, got into spelling bees in the first place. "I really like reading, so when I heard about the spelling bee, I though it would be a great opportunity," the Abbey Park High School student said. "I think you learn a lot, you develop your vocabulary, so it's great for that." Eric Youssab, a Grade 8 student See Practice page 12 GRAND OPENING C E L E B R AT I O N S O N N O W Sculpt Your Summer Body Ever wished you could be like those people who seem able to stay effortlessly slim from season to season while others bloat over the winter? Ever asked if there was a medically accurate way of sculpting a body in spite of age, injuries and experience level ? Ever wondered why fitness seems so easy for others and yet you get injured every time you try an exercise program? Firstly, there is no effortless fitness. Those people who seem to stay fit easily do it by getting to know their bodies, finding an instructor who can help them do so and matching the workout to the woman, child or man. If youíve been going to big general classes where the instructor barely knows your name, itís little wonder that youíre not getting results. Yet getting fit doesnít have to be difficult or painful. "This feels so good I don't know I'm exercising!" exclaimed Donna, mother of three, during an Oakville Pilates class. Yes, we know you don't have Madonna's budget for a full-time personal trainer, but there is an answer. At Oakville Pilates we use a unique, individualized approach. We get to know your body and goals BEFORE we put you in to the class. Then we use tiny classes of 3-8 people to give you personal attention at group cost. Does it work? "I went down a size in pants the first month!" exclaimed our client Margaret, a fiftyplus grandmother of two. Secondly, you don't have to stop working out just because the weather's bad. Oakville Pilates offers an internationally certified method, Stott Pilates, that can be done year-round. We can also give you a fast, power pace without risk to meet your summer deadline. "My running times actually improved over the winter with the amazing Stott breathing method and core strengthening," said runner Paul, an Oakville Pilates student. Finally, if you are looking for a fast fitness solution after a long layoff, you are asking for an injury. Most workout methods, eg. aerobics, running, Yoga, even many of the pilates classes and Gym personal training currently being offered, have little or no medical input. Stott Pilates uses only fully-trained instructors and updates our material yearly with medical information to keep classes state-of- the-art and injury-free. Did you know that in North America Pilates is completely unregulated by law, and can legally be taught by someone with no training at all? That is why our international certification makes such a difference. At Oakville Pilates, we start by carefully examining your body. Then we tell you which workout methods to avoid and how to prepare for the training that suits your body, no matter what your starting level. "I haven't had back pain since I started with Oakville Pilates," says Fatima, who came to us with chronic sciatica, "these are exercises I can do whenever I need them."Contact Oakville Pilates at 905 466 5977 Also classes in home, workplace or school. ENTER TO WIN! GRAND PRIZE! *See in store for details. $ in Luxury-To-GoTM ready-made drapery 2000 * JOIN US AT OUR NEW MISSISSAUGA LOCATION THIS WEEKEND GREAT CELEBRITY SPEAKER GIFT WITH PURCHASE OFFER** LYNN SPENCE of CityLine TOMORROW April 21 from 2pm-4pm **While quantities last. 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