Sturt Public School students Mustafa Hussain, 11, and Raaid Mahbub, 10, are progressing to the state finals after winning the region’s spelling bee competition. 

Mustafa said he is feeling mixed emotions about the upcoming finals on November 2 in Sydney. 

“I definitely feel very nervous but excited at the same time,” he said. 

“It’s hard to say how I will go but I’m just shooting for the moon.

“I try my best to practise as much as I can and I have the same list but different words and I do about a page a day out of 17 pages, as well as going through common misspelt words.” 

Year 4 student Raaid is busy preparing for the finals and is confident he will do well. 

“I’ve always liked spelling and my dad has a list of words and I look at each of the words for a bit and then I have a test each day,” he said. 

“I usually get every single word right.” 

Sturt’s year 3/4 teacher Fallon Holt said both the school and spelling bee community are “impressed” two students from one school will be competing at the competition. 

“Both are fantastic spellers and were standouts at our school competition,” Ms Holt said. 

“Mustafa and Raaid competed at the Riverina level and then these two won and are now progressing to state, which is really exciting.

“Apparently it’s very hard to get two students from one school, so we’re all very excited and impressed.”