KUALA LIPIS: SMJK Chung Hwa topped the charts here in the 2006 SPM and
2007 PMR exams, and now they aim to prove their worth again by vying to
be Pahang champions in the inaugural RHB-NST Spell-It-Right Challenge.

Chung Hwa principal Ong Chye Beng has been putting the school's 428
pupils through proper selection rounds, determining the best spellers
among them for intensive coaching.

Mission control was tasked to senior assistant Chua Thean Cheang and
head of English panel Lee Choy Wan.

They quickly organised a mini-spelling contest to unearth the best
talents to carry the school flag.

"We have chosen three heroes and one heroine to beat the other
challengers for the state champion crown," said Chua.

"We hope to give the other contestants from bigger towns a run for
their money.

"Let's keep our fingers crossed that our daily 10 minutes of recess
time practice pays off handsomely!"

Chung Hwa's four contestants will be fourth-formers Teoh Wei Sen,
Vivishree Kanesuvaran and Chew Jern Ian, all 16, and second-former Chua
Teong Zhe, 14.

Vivishree doesn't mind being the only girl among them. "In fact, I'm
proud to be so easily accepted by the male-dominated team."

She sees the SIR Challenge as "a golden opportunity for me to get to
know more English words, which will help me improve my English".
Teong Zhe is feeling the heat, though.

"As the baby in the team I face lots of pressure. I don't want to let
my team down. I'm going to cut down on my TV time and cover a few
dictionary pages every night."

The SIR challenge, jointly organised by the New Straits Times and RHB
Banking Group, will be conducted in primary and secondary categories and
in two stages: the State Challenge and National Challenge.

The SIR state challenge is open to 36 schools in each state. Each
school can send a team of four contestants. The nine top spellers will
qualify for the state finals.

The state champion and runner-up in the primary school category will
win RM1,000 and RM800 respectively, while the second runner-up will get
RM500.

The top three schools will be awarded the same amounts.

The state champion and runner-up in the secondary school category will
win RM2,000 and RM1,500 respectively, while the second runner-up will get
RM1,000, with the top three schools receiving equivalent amounts.

The state champions will then compete in the National Challenge in
Kuala Lumpur in August.

For further information on the RHB-NST SIR Challenge, look out for
entry forms in the NST.