Government invest in high-speed rail? It is a fun issue, Bennett says, because people have strong opinions on both sides. “I liked how you could decide on different voices and gestures.”ĬA Seventh Graders Bennett Neely and Elliot Brown took Second Place in the Novice Public Forum Debate. “The thing I like most about Interpretation is that you can be dramatic and add your own touch to it,” she says. For her piece, she chose an episode from “The Office” where Dwight selects the health plan. She says she was interested in “Interp” because she likes to act and wanted to select her own topic. Public Forum Debate: where teams of two compete on a topic specified in advance.ĬA Sixth Grader Emmaline Sprick performs her Interpretive speech, a scene from the TV show, “The Office.”Įmmaline Sprick, Grade 6, was the only CA student to compete in the Interpretation of Literature format, where she took Third Place.Interpretation of Literature: where students perform a speech from an existing source.Original Oratory: where students give a speech on any topic that they write themselves.Middle Schoolers competed in three formats-at both the Novice and Varsity levels: “It was a proud coaching moment, watching the students take ownership of the event,” says Martínez, who offered special shoutouts to Speech & Debate Society President, Senior Owen Tilman, Debate Captain Junior Helaina Korneffel, and Junior Graham Neely, who together led the tournament. As they arrived in Knowles, CA students and their counterparts from Dawson School, DSST: Conservatory Green, Frontier Academy, International School of Denver, Preston Middle School, and Summit Middle School were excited and nervous to participate in this first event.Ībout 30 members of the CA Upper School Speech & Debate Society managed all aspects of the tournament operations, including setting up the home base, running tabulations, judging participants, and hosting the awards ceremony. In October, CA showcased its new Middle School Speech & Debate program by hosting one of the largest tournaments in the Front Range-bringing in 65 competitors, representing seven schools, across three formats. Jon Vogels to help train students in the various formats-with lunch meetings and time dedicated after school.

CA Director of Debate, Randall Martínez, has been actively recruiting students in Grades 6-8 and working closely with Dr. Colorado Academy Speech & Debate continues to expand, as Middle School students are now welcomed into the program.

The Academy by Emmaline Andrews