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Interhouse Debating competition
Marianne Hicks
Debating & Public Speaking Coordinator
This term we ran our second BSC Interhouse Debating Competition!
While members of the Debating and Public Speaking Cocurriuclar team were keen to participate, the competition provided an opportunity to open up the activity to others who may be interested in the great Art of the Debate!
Four teams from Years 8 – 10 competed, with the Year 9 team of Alia Wong (9S), Ella Davis (9S) and Ethan Gallagher (9S) taking top honours in the finals, arguing that we ‘should colonise Mars’. The winning team were given the honour of sprinkling their house colours (Lan Se) over the ‘Debate Cake’ and sharing it with the audience and their fellow debaters.
Click on the photos in the gallery below to enlarge.
In taking part in the Interhouse Competition, aside from earning points for their houses, some of our participants discovered a hidden talent - which came as somewhat of a surprise! I hope they consider continuing to participate in our debating competitions, particularly our Years 7 & 8 Debating Association of Victoria competition running in Terms 3 and 4 here at BSC.
The competition runs across across four evenings, including an introductory workshop and exhibition debate to make sure they are all fully prepared for the three competition rounds. The dates are Wednesday 4 September, Wednesday 18 September, Wednesday 23 October and Wednesday 6 November. Contact me directly to sign up!
Public Speaking competitions
Our public speakers have also had recent success. Sammy Elgahrey (9S) and Ella Szymanski (8R) competed in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition.
Congratulations to Ella who has made it through to the State Finals! Ella spoke about how teenagers should be studying politics at school, while Sammy talked about his passion for fashion. Ella also gave an impromptu speech on the topic of the ‘wishing well’, and how we need to turn away from always wanting more and to be content that we have enough.
Both Sammy and Ella were fine ambassadors for BSC, representing the school with confidence and performing very well against competitors.
An Dang (11U) competed in the VCAA Plain English Speaking Awards and also won her heat, which means she goes into the next round. An not only gave a moving speech about the hidden language of AusLan in our community, whilst signing simultaneously, she also gave an impromptu speech of 3 minutes with only 4 minutes of preparation time.
Well done, An, what an undertaking!
So - let's hear what YOU have to say!
Next term we will also be running the Annual BSC Chatterbox Public Speaking Competition on Wednesday 21st of August in the Library.
Chatterbox is a wonderfully entertaining and lively evening and I encourage any students from Year 7-12 who might be interested in participating to give it a go!
Debating and public speaking are very powerful tools for developing self-confidence, resilience, the ability to research, work effectively in teams and, of course, to speak in public. Students also build their capacity to construct and deconstruct arguments, identify flaws in logic and reasoning and think on their feet. They quickly discover that arguments, like coins, have at least two sides!
.... and let's Fight for the fun of it!
Year 7 and Year 8 students are invited to participate in the Debating Association of Victoria Junior Heats . These will be held at Brunswick Secondary College, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm, over four eventings. No experience is necessary and the more the merrier!
If you think that you have what it takes to be an active member of a supportive, motivated and fun-loving group - contact Dr Hicks via Compass!
Dates:
- Wednesday 4 September,
- Wednesday 18 September,
- Wednesday 23 October and
- Wednesday 6 November
