Dalweide Primary Learners Shine at WOW Spelling Festival

Language literacy, youth empowerment, and community pride came together in full force on Saturday, August 15, when learners from Dalweide Primary School in Paarl participated in the prestigious Sanlam Woorde Open Wêrelde (WOW) Spelfees at New Orleans High School.

The WOW initiative, spearheaded by Stellenbosch University’s Social Impact division, is a national empowerment project aimed at broadening the horizons of learners through reading, language, and educational development.

Leading the charge at Dalweide Primary is dedicated educator Ms. T. Smith, who serves as the school’s WOW coordinator. Driven by a deep commitment to creating constructive opportunities for learners, Ms. Smith goes above and beyond classroom teaching to connect learners with life-changing development programmes. In addition to the spelling festival, she actively coordinates various literary and creative projects, including the WOW Readers' Circle, WOW Public Speaking, and the upcoming WOW Vers en Verf (Poetry and Paint) initiative. Community members are invited to support the young artists at an upcoming Vers en Verf art exhibition scheduled for August 21, 2026, at Dalweide Primary School.

At the recent spelling festival, learners were tested on their vocabulary and spelling skills under competitive conditions. Showing great determination, five learners from Dalweide Primary successfully qualified for Round 2, which will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Weber Gedenk Primary School in Stellenbosch.

The Top Performers Advancing to Round 2:

• Grade 1: Zahra Petersen (2nd Place)

• Grade 4: Jayde-Lee Adams (4th Place)

• Grade 5: Shania Williams (1st Place)

• Grade 7 (Afrikaans Home Language): Tristin Jaftas (1st Place)

• Grade 7 (First Additional Language): Masson Andrews (3rd Place)

These outstanding achievements highlight the incredible talent existing within our local public schools when dedicated teachers and committed learners work together. The community wishes the team the best of luck as they head to Stellenbosch to represent Paarl on the regional stage.