Debating and Public Speaking
Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking
The spotlight was on Bianca Fortunato (Year 11) last week as she competed in the regional finals of the prestigious Rostrum public speaking competition. With a well-crafted speech, and an on the spot short notice speech, Bianca delivered a stellar performance that earned her a well-deserved second place.
Her journey to the podium was one of dedication and perseverance. Under the guidance of public speaking coordinator, Miss Papalexandris, Bianca committed herself to rigorous practice sessions, refining her delivery, sharpening her arguments, and mastering the art of engaging an audience. Week after week, she demonstrated an unwavering determination to improve, and her efforts certainly paid off.
Although only the first-place winner advances to the state finals, Bianca remains on standby—if a competitor withdraws, she will be next in line to step into the state competition arena. Regardless of
the outcome, Bianca’s achievement is a testament to her hard work and she has set an inspiring
example for fellow students.
We congratulate Bianca on this outstanding accomplishment and look forward to seeing where her
public speaking talents take her next!
CSDA Debating
The CSDA debating season has been in full swing, with our teams displaying impressive skill, resilience, and strategic thinking. Across five rounds of competition, students from Years 7 to 12 have tackled challenging topics, refined their argumentation and represented our school with pride.
In Round 1 against Marist College Kogarah, victories were secured by Year 7, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11,
and Year 12 teams, setting a promising tone for the season. Round 2 saw our debaters take on Marist College Penshurst, with Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, and Year 12 earning wins.
Bethany College proved to be a tough opponent in Round 3 but our Year 9 and Year 10 teams stood strong to claim success. Then came Round 4 against St Aloysius, where we celebrated wins in Year 7,
Year 9, Year 10, Year 11 (special recognition to Yvonne Pearce for stepping up a year group), and Year 12.
Round 5 provided all teams with a bye, meaning automatic wins across the board. Through perseverance and teamwork, our debaters have demonstrated commendable growth and determination. With such solid performances, there’s much to be proud of as we look ahead to the final stages of the competition. Congratulations to all involved!
