Debating and Public Speaking: Mid-Season Update

CGHS students are proving themselves to be confident and capable orators and formidable opponents in an argument.

At this stage in the season, we are five formal debates into the Premier’s Debating Challenge and have completed a stellar run in the public speaking arena. Our Year 8 team also represented CGHS brilliantly at the Youth Week competition run by Canterbury-Bankstown Council at the end of Term 1.  

Term 2 kicked off with the Plain English Speaking Competition- this year hosted by Tempe High School- where Marilla Gibian-Stuart and Ismini Stavropoulos of Year 10 represented Canterbury Girls with thoughtful prepared speeches, and incredibly intelligent impromptu speeches about ‘the most important lesson’.

Ismini then progressed to compete in TWO further finals, culminating in the state semi-finals hosted by Holding Redlich firm in Martin Place. The adjudicators had the near impossible task of selecting just three students to progress, and the standard was extraordinary- Ismini even managed to weave a Goebbels quote into her impromptu speech! It is a huge achievement to have progressed so far in this prestigious competition, and we thank Ismini for contributing her time, enthusiasm and intellect to this opportunity. 

We aim to build a culture of confident and eloquent speakers at CGHS, so please consider how you can support or get involved in opportunities for public speaking and debating. If you are interested, please speak to someone on the team or see Ms Knapman in English.

Best of luck to our debating teams and junior public speakers for Term 3!