Oratory Article
Here is all your up-to-date information about Cranbrook’s oratory programmes:
Competition Debating
Congratulations to all ISDA competition teams for their clean sweep of wins against St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Round 1 on Friday night! Terrific effort that was extended to our Eastside junior teams who had some pre-season friendly debates online against James Ruse Agricultural High School.
This Friday 23rd February sees the following debates:
| Details | ISDA | Eastside |
| Round | Round 2 | Pre-Season |
| Venue | St Catherine’s | Reddam |
| Address | 26 Albion Street Waverley NSW 2024 | 68/70 Edgecliff Rd, Woollahra NSW 2025 |
| Entry via | Enter via Albion Street Gate entrance, walk around to the left of reception where you will enter the quad area. Follow the large set of stairs up to the tennis courts. The IHW is opposite the tennis courts – there is general signage around the school that will assist. Click here for map. | Enter via Convent Lane or Edgecliff Road. Signage will direct you to the Level 5 rooftop meeting place. Click here for map. |
| Years 7-9 debate / finish | Debates start 6.30pm / Debates finish 7.30pm | Debates start 6.15pm / Debates finish 7.15pm |
| Years 10-12 debate / finish | Debates start 7.30pm / Debates finish 9.00pm | Debates start 7.15pm / Debates finish 8.45pm |
| Topic area | Politics | No set topic area |
| Spectator policy | Spectators welcome | Spectators welcome |
No bus is provided since all debates are within the Eastern Suburbs this week. Students are required to make their own way to venues after school.
A reminder that all Years 7-9 debaters must be collected by a parent or guardian at the end of the night.
Social and Legal Debating
Social Debating continues 3.30pm this Thursday 22nd February for students already enrolled. Students train with their coach, prep and then debate, finishing at 5.30pm. Social Debating is closed to spectators, and parents collecting their son at the end can do so from the Rose Bay Avenue pedestrian gate.
Mooting students also have their next training at 3.30pm this Thursday 22nd February. This session will be all about understanding the 2024 Bond University National High School Mooting Competition, which Cranbrook have entered.
“The National High School Mooting Competition brings together high school teams from across the county. Teams of students from participating schools will compete in the preparation of persuasive arguments on behalf of fictitious clients and present their arguments before moot judges including Bond Law academics and experienced members of the judiciary. The National High School Mooting Competition is designed to share the Faculty’s knowledge and interest in law with high school students who hope to pursue a career in law or expand their horizons. The competition will provide students with an opportunity to learn about the law and develop their research and advocacy skills.”
We are excited to cultivate this opportunity for senior students, who will be coached by our very own IB Coordinator, Mr Nicholas Hanrahan, who brings his own experience and enthusiasm to the role.
Public Speaking
Our next public speaking session takes place 3.30pm this Monday 26th February, with students enrolled meeting their new coach, Luisa. Luisa has been a successful debate adjudicator and public speaking coach, supporting a diverse range of students across multiple competitions and workshops. In addition to developing capabilities in traditional forms of public speaking, Luisa is keen to encourage Cranbrookians to grasp a more contemporary range of oral communication contexts, including podcasting, group interviews and panels, and even television presenting!
We will shortly be announcing an additional public speaking opportunity for Years 7 and 8 students who would like to build their confidence and skill and be credited through formal external assessment. This will run on a different afternoon to our Monday group and will have a numbers limit. More information about an upcoming information seminar on this opportunity will feature in next week’s article and students in the previously identified cohorts will receive an email from me – stay tuned!
Model United Nations
This week, students involved with our Model UN lunchtime sessions continue with part 2 of their debates on the question of civil war in Sudan. The upcoming resolution for Weeks 5-6 will focus on the question of the high seas, encouraging students to research and debate the protection of international sea lanes vital for global trade and security.
Cranbrook will be sending five students to the Model UN State Conference next month, an event that runs over an entire weekend and immerses delegates in a range of international debates, mock summits and creative role playing. Year 9 students Jack Kelly, Kernel He, Tate Leggett, Year 10 student Archie Talib, and Year 12 student Oscar Simich will all represent the school at this event. We look forward to hearing about their experience!
Students already enrolled in the programme and who are interested in small group coaching for Model UN so they may develop confidence and skill to compete in external events are invited to attend our weekly Thursday morning sessions. Coach Jack will lead these sessions from 7.15-8.15am, with room details published in the dedicated TEAMS channel for students.
Oratory programmes are fully subscribed for Semester 1
There has been a lot of recent interest in participating in one or more of our oratory programmes. However, close date for sign-ups have long passed and we are presently fully subscribed across all debating, public speaking, and Model UN. We are therefore unable to accept new enrolments. However, students keen to gain access to our resources and prepare themselves for Semester 2 sign-up are welcome to reach out to me (note, we only accept expressions of interest from students directly). Sign-up for Semester 2 offerings will circulate via student email in mid-June.
Upcoming oratory events
- ISDA Competition Debating R3 vs Kincoppal (away) next Friday 1st March
- Eastside Competition Debating R1 vs Sydney Grammar (away) also next Friday 1st March
Contact
Should you or your son have any further questions about any of Cranbrook’s oratory programmes, you are welcome to reach out to the Head of Oratory and Student Journalism, Mr Benjamin Smith, at bsmith@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. In the first instance, students should be making contact about getting involved.
Essential information and highlights for parents will be posted here on Cranbrook Connect as part of the Thursday Link. Students involved in oratory programmes will receive updates via their respective Canvas or TEAMS channels.
Benjamin Smith
Head of Oratory and Student Journalism