Whole School News

Western Australian Debating League Grand Final 

I'd firstly like to congratulate all the students for their achievement in this year's Albany Regional Debating Competition and for the amount of effort they and their families have invested. Four wins out of five rounds is worthy of rousing applause! Since COVID, we have adapted to a whole new format and when struggling to find local adjudicators, WADL brought remote adjudicators through Teams. So yes, debaters and their audience sit in classrooms in Albany and the University of Western Australia’s volunteer debaters and trained adjudicators, adjudicate from their studies and living rooms in Perth.  While the new format of adjudicating has come with some minor technical difficulties, our adjudicators have been very impressed with the improvement of the student's debating skills throughout the season and we, in turn, have enjoyed experienced and consistent adjudications. 

The 2021 season concludes with a Grand Final

When: 4.45pm, Monday 9 August 

Where: North Albany Senior High School 

Format: Catering will be provided with time after the first debate for guests to help themselves to refreshments. Audience may not enter or leave when a debate is in session. 

Novice: 5.15pm 

St Joseph's 2 v St Joseph's 1 

Topic: THW financially reward citizens for performing good deeds 

Junior: 6.30pm 

ACC 1 v GSG 1 

Topic: THBT businesses should seek out information on and take responsibility for the mental health of their employees e.g. pay for therapy appointments 

Senior: 7.30pm 

St Joseph's 5 v St Joseph's 4 

Prep Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm 

Topic: Impromptu 

Good luck to Dannielle, Phoebe and River who will be our speakers on Monday and to Hardy, Olivia and Chelsea who contributed to our success! 

Further Opportunities: Inter-Regional Competition 

We have been invited to participate in the Inter-Regional Online Competition (IROC) running in September this year! 

WHAT: an online 3-a-side style debating competition between the regions of Albany, Geraldton and Mandurah. 

WHEN: The competition will consist of 4 rounds with dates as follows:

Round 1: 1 September

Round 2: 8 September

Round 3: 15 September

Round 4:  22 September   

HOW: a video conferencing platform called Jitsi. The IROC will provide students with the chance to debate (would that be called e-bating?) against schools from across the state. 

Interested students should speak to or email me. 

Good luck for the Grand Final on Monday! (Loud cheering and wild applause). 

Ms Valda Wieland | Debating Convenor