Finding Their Voice:
A Big Term for Public Speaking and Debating
It has been a big term for public speaking and debating at St Stephen’s, with our students stepping outside their comfort zones, sharing their ideas, and proudly representing our school across the region.
Mario Calanna Public Speaking Competition
On Thursday 16 July, St Stephen’s was proud to host the Mario Calanna Public Speaking Competition, welcoming five other schools to compete across three age categories.
After a rigorous school-based selection process, eight St Stephen’s students were selected to represent our school:
Years 7 – 8: Claire Bateman, Rachel Montgomery, and Hannah Barnes
Years 9 – 10: Zebedee Knighton, Supreet Kaur, and Daniel Falvo
Years 11 – 12: Cara Hall-Matthews and Eva Cahill
While the final competition placings will not be announced until the Business Liaison Awards later this term, we are thrilled to announce that Rachel Montgomery, Zebedee Knighton, and Cara Hall-Matthews all placed in their respective categories!
A huge congratulations to all eight students. Public speaking can be incredibly challenging, and it takes courage to stand in front of an audience, share your ideas, and put yourself out there. Every student should be incredibly proud of the way they represented St Stephen’s.
A very special thank you must go to Mrs Laura Gilbert, who did an incredible job organising and coordinating the event, our student MC’s, the 11 community members who volunteered their time as adjudicators, and Mrs Stacey Crockford for her invaluable help on the day.
St Stephen’s Debaters Reach the Semi-Finals
Our students have continued to make their voices heard through the Cairns Catholic Schools Debating Competition, in which St Stephen’s has proudly participated since early Term 1.
Following a rigorous school selection round, four teams represented St Stephen’s:
Junior Team 1
Hazel Osbourne
Hannah Barnes
Rachel Montgomery
Junior Team 2
Georgia Field
Claire Bateman
Timika Klem
Isabela Valle
Senior Team 1
Diwani Mapolisa
Abby Howard
Rafael Lalabalavu
Senior Team 2
Summer Richardson
Charlotte Agnew
Cara Hall-Matthews
Ami Kaur
Every student has performed phenomenally throughout the competition, dedicating countless hours to preparing speeches, participating in mock debates, researching topics, and challenging one another’s ideas.
Following the conclusion of Round 3 in Week 3, we are incredibly excited to announce that two of our teams have progressed through to the semi-finals: Senior Team 2 and Junior Team 2! Having two teams reach this stage of the competition is a significant achievement for St Stephen’s and reflects the incredible commitment and preparation of our students.
The semi-final topics will undoubtedly challenge our students, but we have every confidence in their ability to think critically, work collaboratively, and argue their positions with confidence. We wish both teams the very best of luck!
A special mention must also go to our shadow debaters – Daniel Falvo, Ryker Leary, Ruben Longakit Jr, and Cooper Ceiliot-Tonkin. These students prepared for every debate alongside our competing teams and regularly gave them a serious run for their money during preparation. Their commitment has been an important part of the teams’ success.
Finally, a huge thank you to Ms Sonya Barnes for her incredible logistical support throughout the competition, her dedication to our debating teams, and, of course, the enthusiasm and jubilance she brings to every event.
It has certainly been a big term for public speaking and debating at St Stephen’s. We are incredibly proud of every student who has stepped forward, found their voice, and represented our school. Whether standing behind a lectern or across a debating table, these students have demonstrated courage, preparation, teamwork, and a willingness to challenge themselves.
Congratulations to everyone involved, and we cannot wait to see where their voices take them next!
Kind regards
Mrs Ambre Paolacci | Middle Leader English