https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/spelling-bee/three-new-champ-best-record-field-to-win-2026-pms-spelling-bee/news-story/3b00d9d2f65e74d9e1026e9bcc2451faKidsNewsen2026-09-18T06:00:00+10:00Un-Bee-lievable: first all-female trioher mum,The 13-year-old,Parliament House,an excellent memory,score,only three,’s Spelling Bee,Picture,my hand,root words and words,Nearly 100,Kids News history –,next month,the new kids,Nearly 100,000 students,fact books,a little bit,Spelling Bee,national champion,MEET THE THREE NEW CHAMPIONS Charlotte Edwards,pusillanimous,a score,the 2026 crown,Literacy,’s Spelling Bee record books,the state,Anthony Albanese,a government, monarch or court,her first time,the third round,the Years 7-8 high school category,Parliament House.Anna,the blustery shores,the first round,a homeschooled student,30,supplied NED-12499-Kids-News-Spelling-Bee-Banner Joining Charlotte,Parliament House.Her mum Sarah Yu,the national final,“edict,words,Next stop,.NED,THE THREE NEW CHAMPIONSCharlotte Edwards,Mt Barker,Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,back-to-back winners,the competition.The 13-year-old,a lot,The only word Aarika,series,Years 3-4,Aarika,a 345-million-year-old fossil,Years 3-8,’s most,the patterns,Charlotte,headphones,her score,a scorching sub-65 seconds,Elsie Chittleborough,the format,the words,783 registered students,a government,Kwan,’s history,Shawn,Charlotte Edwards,town,Green level,the “girl power,Tim JoyHer mum Sarah Yu,The nine-year-old homeschooler,Ulverstone,Aarika Harsha,the all-female champions,the competition,the Marble Foyer,authority,fact books.She,a category,Miss Kwan,27/30,its six year history,the word,category.The nine-year-old homeschooler,Tim Joy,an objection,’s Orange level,47 seconds,the Green level,one minute,the first homeschooler,supplied Charlotte,Anna,Last week,South Australian homeschooled student Anna Yu,the Kids News competition,My Homeschool,victory,2022,a word,reading,the good news,the whole competition,GREEN,Holsworthy Public School,’s mum Sarah,Anna Yu,her age group,Years 5-6,an official public order or decree,last year,the post,the hardest word,2026,the first time,her 27/30 result,action,the 1000 Things,98,Prime Minister,thrills,books,Canberra,Yu,’s final,the limestone floor,her mum Anna,the Red level,’s Leighland Christian School,a mistake,Un-Bee-lievable,courage,the past two years,the only 2026 finalist,this year.Charlotte,the Bee,this year,history –,spills,one word,a complete changing,Tim Joy Anna,disagreement,Stuart Gibbs,a new opening round record,Bass Strait,a student,the “girl power” podium,’s Anna Yu,25/30,lots,Years 7-8,the state finals,part.The 11-year-old southwest Sydney student,Edwards,the only all-female winning trio,monarch or court,our curriculum,“demur,a lack,Three new champs,their place,suppliedCharlotte,The curriculum,the Apple Isle,spelling lessons,Prime Minister Anthony Albanese –,level,Tasmania,Ms Yu,30/30,the Prime Minister,98,783 registered students,the final round,the Prawn,the secondary school Red level,Kids-News-Spelling-Bee-BannerJoining Charlotte,three new national champions,the guard.Last week,part,the sixth annual Prime Minister,two other newly minted champions,Her mum Sarah Yu,my mouth,multiple firsts,the PM,Finalists,circle debut,Sarah Yu,000 students,READING LEVEL,2:36.733 –,’s second consecutive champion,a child,its winners’,Three new champ,very literature,New South Wales super speller Aarika Harsha,English,Reading levels,the guard,first all-female trio,category,PM,29/30,Tim JoyAnnahttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/5891a2dc3d9b4f74b70a7aa29d19360bhttps://origin.kidsnews.com.au/science-technology/australian-state-imposes-caps-on-screen-use-amid-declining-results/news-story/47e917982538101a9bf571a8db4c50a4KidsNewsen2026-09-17T18:30:00+10:00State caps screen time in schoolsour most vulnerable* students,School students,teenagers,the OECD* average,skills,Students,younger students,mental processes,record,38 member countries,their health and education,PISA,drastic action,half a lesson,devices,exam results,handwriting,Preschoolers,Kindergarten,Economic Co-operation and Development,Digital literacy,High School,their first language.Chatswood High School,45 minutes.In high school,a day,Sydney,lessons,a problem,any screen time,record.PISA,students,our students,a blanket restriction,“handwriting,NSW Health,more than two hours,its own “eyes,our school community,the research,too much time,the Organisation,the lead,Australian state,Chatswood High School,Australia,online learning,Education Minister Prue Car,poor testing trends,subject.It,informationexemptions,an online world,many cognitive* benefits,digital lessons,one state government,younger students.Preschoolers,the NSW government,all subjects,OECD,school,laptops, tablets or desktop computers,enough sleep,digital learning policy,Victorian state schools,Claire Thaptimkuna,public schools,Years 5 and 6,year level,Year 5,The Minns government,Year 2,“exercise books,Federal Education Minister,the State,the release,one Australian state,12 students,Education Minister,each subject,their children,caps,its back-to-books approach,each subject.Online learning,pen and paper,the Program,screen use,their lowest point,healthy growth and development,class,laptops,these important daily activities,next year –,harmdefault,a standard habitdigital literacy,Archibald Newman,concerns,Prue Car,Online learning,GREEN,home,schoolsGLOSSARYmandated,State caps,45 minutes,the first time caps,as little as 15 minutes,The restrictions,too much screen time,time,poor testing trends.To,a lesson,the internet,the time,Chatswood High school principal Robin Chand,high school,digital tools,the government,30 minutes,Dr Helen Goodwin,the OECD* average.Under,Robin Chand,as much as seven hours,L-R,a core part,the new policy,2027,the first time,children,Helen Goodwin,the federal level,Jason Clare,at least one hour,Jane Dempster/Daily Telegraph,POLL Kids News poll,Victoria,An entire generation,Year 12,Year 10,day.Year,NSW,schools,NSW government,15 minutes,classrooms,Year 3 and 4 students,Australian high school students’,economic growth,Minns government,exemptions,screens,” digital learning policy,cognitive* benefits,“handwriting” and “exercise books,3 and 4 students,homework,one-quarter,digital devices,tablets or desktop computers,a device,a ruleOECD,a national “digital detox,the ability,International Student Assessment,a mix,digital literacy* learning,classrooms.POLLKids News poll,young kids,Aarini Mazumdar Pic,subject,State caps screen time,their first language,principal Robin Chand,official permission,the default*,a safe and effective way,stands,Ms Car,day,excessive screen use,our teaching and learning,the most restrictions,a responsibility,maths and reading,its back-to-books approach.The move,Australian students,Government research,NSW Health chief pediatrician,restrictions,Hayden Sarwana,strong support,last week,active social connections,Car,’s June announcement,parents,Year 11 and 12 students,term one,scores,part,a whole generation,young people,an organisation,declining results,the focus,a way,their peers and family,Years 7 to 10,READING LEVEL,mandatory caps,’s own research,special needs,families,English,The screen time limits,A healthy day,screen time,2028 –,The move,Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,the curriculum,Federal Education Minister Jason Clarehttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/e9843508962929db69e348f56bb349dfhttps://origin.kidsnews.com.au/animals/aussie-boys-snake-handling-shocks-as-expert-warns-of-risks/news-story/bb9cde306a0737a1356a6128625a484cKidsNewsen2026-09-16T19:00:00+10:00Aussie boy’s snake handling stuns’s gentle,boots,,prey,Noosa,Aussies,the area,more snake activity,somewhere elsedemeanour,skills,loss,chicken coop,great intentions and respect,temperatures,Gloves,a Government-issued permit,Picture,constrict,proof,behaviour and way,snake combat and mating behaviours,’s behaviour,carpet python QUICK QUIZ1,POLL Kids News poll,your own ideas,the gardening,a “hectic season,both shock and praise online.In video footage,stunsGLOSSARYnon-venomous,earlier this month,thousands,catchers,a reporter,his mum,Ms Woolston,Aussie boy,’s snake,2,3,mowed lawn,4,5,the footage,day and night,the now viral clip,LISTEN TO THIS STORYAussie boy,Just another average day,viral,shocks,the child,the Nature Conservation Act 1992,sleeves,sleeves, et cetera,gardens,a threat,bushland,a permit,snakes,’s fearless response,the top,this question,AUSSIE BOY,overseas,What change,EXTRA READINGMale snakes’,An Aussie boy,’s confident manoeuvre,the country,’s “impressive” response,boots,the right thing,this coastal carpet python,all snakes,Breeding season,a beat,a python,people,expert warns,lots,stunsCLASSROOM ACTIVITIES1,social media user ‘Alycia,other viewers,stuns,an animal,a threatEXTRA READINGMale snakes’,’S SNAKE HANDLING,Alycia,an unlicenced or untrained person,information,somewhere else demeanour,Australia,An Australian boy,two other kids,experts,a passer-by,his left hand,Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers,no places,Instagram/Summer Woolston “Snakes,Noosa, Queensland.The boy,a skilful movedocile,Snakes,’S SNAKE HANDLING GOES VIRALThousands,a skilful move,Thomas McLean SNAKE SEASON BEGINSSnakes,the path,’s handling skills,breeding season,This Aussie boy,a busy footpath,VIRALThousands,blood flow,a snake,LISTEN TO THIS STORY Aussie boy,What to do if you see a snake,the young child,consciousness relocate,the walking trail,’s gentle handling,the snake,their grass,CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES1,at least 20 minutes,a wild snake,A SNAKEAfter,quite a calm demeanour,footage,his right,both shock and praise,BOY,Queensland.The boy,little contact,viewers,WATCH THE VIDEO,the wild animals,Woolston,help.SNAKE SEASON BEGINSSnakes,the move,shock and praise,GLOSSARY non-venomous,the garden,its body,one commentator,Health and Physical Education 2,an outpouring,Wonderful action,wild snakes,Time,the weather,Summer Woolston,’s head,a tidy garden,manoeuvre,a detailed and convincing paragraph,et cetera,this activityCurriculum Links,consciousnessrelocate,The boy,‘wrestling match’Big-bellied snake,the popular tourist town,locals and people,READING LEVEL,the video footage,The video,a large snake,venom or poison,viralSnake girl,quite a nasty bite,clean patio,GREEN,news.com.au,the non-venomous* carpet python,THE VIDEOAn Aussie boy,Extension,Noosa, Queensland,English,the story,risks,the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers team member,video footage,a local snake catcher,shock and praise.POLL Kids News poll,carpet pythonQUICK QUIZWhy,the boy,Aussie kids,commonsense,even non-venomous snakes,wild,my morning,professional snake catcher Summer Woolstonhttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/6e6be84299c957d20e39b3edd80fa7cb