Debating & Public Speaking News

The much-anticipated Year 9 to 12 Senior DAV Debating Interschool Competition began this week at Scotch College. St Catherine’s fields thirteen teams in the Hawthorn Region and won ten of the thirteen debates in Round 1, a spectacular start to the DAV debating season. It has been wonderful to welcome several students who are either new to the school, or new to debating, to the program.

The Debaters Association runs Women’s Debates in March each year to coincide with International Women’s Day. Year 11 and 12 students participated on Sunday 22 March and Year 9 and 10 debaters will participate in the Intermediate Division on Sunday 29 March. The Senior debaters presented articulate and persuasive speeches, with a St Catherine’s student debating in each of the three winning teams on the day. Year 12 students, and current Debating and Public Speaking Co-Captains, Isabella T and Isabelle C were the second and third highest scoring speakers in the competition, which is testament to their exceptional debating skills. Year 11 student, Aamna A, another talented debater, was a member of the winning team in the competition.

To support their study of Global Responses to Climate Issues, the Year 12 Global Politics students (pictured with their teacher Isabella Oddi - see below) took part in the Climate Issues Debating Competition at Melbourne Museum on 13 March. 

Five keen debaters from the class represented St Catherine’s School. 

Ms Merran O’Connor

Head of Debating and Public Speaking