Debating

As ISDA and FED conclude, I wish to commend our debaters on a fantastic Debating season. In my memory we have never had such a successful season where ten Redlands teams made the knock out stages of the debates. One team (Yr 7B) made the FED Grand Final and two teams (Yr 7 and Primary A) made the Semi Finals of ISDA. This is a great improvement from previous years and I congratulate all the teams involved in Debating this year.

It is particularly heartening to see young Redlands students doing so well and this is due, in large part, to the involvement of Masters Academy as our Redlands coaches and I wish to thank them for their dedication to our school this semester. I also wish to thank Ela Kos, our Debating Captain, who has been managing the Senior teams and the Debating staff Ms Alan, Ms Beggs, Ms Blasco, Ms Dooley, Mr Ockenden, Ms Rolon and Dr Michels who have run home debates and accompanied students to away debates. Finally, thank you to all the parents who have supported our debaters this season. The late Friday nights, and some of you transporting students from debates to other school functions, shows your commitment to Debating and we are all grateful for your support.

What Next?

I would like to invite all the debaters involved this year to be part of the FED and ISDA teams in 2020. Trials will most likely be on the first Friday of Term 1 next year.

Debating Opportunities in Semester 2

We only have one competition in Term 2 (the SDN) which means we move from 14 Secondary teams to 6 teams. With a maximum of 6 spots in each team, it is possible that not every debater will debate in SDN but we do want everyone who wants to debate to be given the opportunity to do so. Every term that a student debates improves their skills and we don’t want students who are not part of the SDN to miss out. I strongly urge all debaters from Yrs 7 to 10 to join or continue with Debating Club and to hone their skills over the coming two terms. If students are not free on a Wednesday 3.30 – 4.30pm, Masters Academy is open to holding additional sessions (numbers permitting) at a more suitable time. Join Debating Club here. Register interest with Masters Academy here if you can’t make it on a Wednesday.

SDN Trials (Yrs 7 to 10)

Trials for the Semester 2 SDN competition will take place this Friday 21 June from 3.30 – 5.30pm in rooms T14 to T17. All Yrs 7-10 students are expected to be there if they wish to debate next semester. Senior students will need to contact Ela Kos if they wish to debate in SDN. There is only one Senior team in the competition with a maximum of six spots. Senior students are requested to be at the trials to help run them

Yr 7 House Debates

Ela Kos, our Debating Captain, is organising a Yr 7 House debate competition in Term 3. Students from Yrs 10, 11 and 12, please contact Ela if you would like to help her organise or run the competition. All Yr 7 debaters and more students from the Year Group will be involved in this. More information will be available in Term 3.

Middle Years Ethics Olympiad Saturday 30 November (Yrs 7-9)

We have the opportunity to send a team of five students to the Middle Years Ethics Olympiad. Please contact me if you would like to be part of it. More information can be found here.

Ms Simone Bryant
Debating Coordinator
sbryant@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9875