Debating News

Fort Street Debating Team Making Their Mark

The Fort Street Debating and Public Speaking Team has had an exciting and productive start to Term 2, with students across all year levels dedicating their Monday afternoons to sharpening their argumentation, public speaking, and critical thinking skills.

Our Stage 4 and 5 debating teams have now been selected, with both teams and their reserves demonstrating exceptional potential and commitment during training. Congratulations to all the students involved – your enthusiasm and growing expertise are already making an impact. Congratulations to the following students Year 7 Debating Team Sasha Anandh Ryan Barman Ruhaan Sethi Alica Kim Yvette Mason-Wong Reserves Sebastian Italiano Michael Zao Evan Li Year 8 Debating Team Leo Feltham Lydia Pan Max Jeng Nirvani Kunwar Reserves Shristi Mittal Emily Lee Year 9 Debating Team Samuel Hao Nancy Zhang Aliya Chaitow Xixi He Reserves Kevin Nguyen Dimitri Mesnyanko Year 10 Debating Team Ollie Panagakis Oliver Williams Pranaya Prasath Gabe Kutcher-Skeller

Meanwhile, the Stage 6 Senior Debating Team continues their impressive season, remaining undefeated so far after 4 rounds of the Premiere’s Debating Competition. Their recent close win against Rose Bay Secondary College, a strong contender in the competition, was a

testament to their strategic thinking, eloquence, and teamwork. As they move deeper into the competition with the final rounds approach, the team is looking like a serious title contender.

In a fantastic opportunity to extend their debating experience, members of our Year 9 and 10 teams will participate in the upcoming University of Sydney Senior Debating Day. Three Fort Street teams will compete in a series of debates against schools from across Sydney and NSW. The day promises not only competitive challenges but also intensive coaching from experienced adjudicators. Students will receive valuable feedback on:

· Speech structure and content,

· Case construction and team cohesion,

· Confidence and delivery techniques, and

· Effective use of tone, timing and persuasive language.

The program is designed to build skill and confidence, while nurturing the next generation of debaters to think critically, speak with purpose, and engage meaningfully with complex issues.

Congratulations to all our debaters on their hard work and achievements so far. Good luck to our Stage 4 and 5 Debating teams who begin their Premiere’s Debating Challenge campaigns in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in the weeks to come.