As the host school for the Debaters’ Association of Victoria (DAV) this year, we were pleased to welcome over 70 students from a range of schools in the Toorak region to compete in the Junior Secondary Program (or Junior Debating) in Term 3. 

St Catherine’s students preparing for their debate.

Thirty eager Year 7 and 8 students were divided into six teams, all coached by our experienced Year 11 mentors who are debaters themselves. The Senior students received a detailed formal induction which outlined the leadership expectations with regard to organisation, commitment, communication and their overall behaviour. With clear expectations in mind, senior students ran regular meetings at recesses and lunchtimes to prepare the Junior students for debates over three rounds. 

The Junior students debated a range of topics including: ‘That emojis reduce our ability to communicate’, ‘That all female athletes should have the same pay and conditions as male athletes’, and ‘That violent toys and games should be banned for children’. Our teams acquitted themselves very well, winning 11 of the 18 debates in which they took part. Nine students were also awarded Best Speaker: Olivia Bogdan (twice) (Year 8), Olivia Raymond (Year 7), Ciara Jenkins (Year 8), Pia Zayontz (Year 8), Lan-Tian Yen-West (Year 8), Ava Colosimo (Year 7), India Marner (Year 8) and Angela Yu (Year 8).

St Catherine’s students preparing for their debate.

We congratulate all of these students as well as all the Junior Debating teams for their fine performances. Special mention must also go to Team 3, which was undefeated, and consisted of: Summer Balla-Kellett (Year 8), Lan-Tian Yen-West, Mary Kellis (Year 8), Madeleine Farrer (Year 8) and Olivia Bogdan, coached by Kavina Kalaichelvam (Year 11), Celia Cody (Year 11) and Rosy Brierly (Year 11). 

Our thanks go to the staff who welcomed our guests and students, and liaised with the DAV over the four debating evenings. Mrs Lloyd, Ms O’Connor, Mrs Gaensler and Mrs Johnstone ensured that eager participants and their mentors were well organised and that the evenings ran smoothly. 

We encourage all Year 7 students to join the Junior Secondary Program again next year, and look forward to welcoming our Year 8 students into the Senior Debating Program in 2019. 

Our Senior Debaters can also be proud of some strong wins this season, some with four and five point margins, which are almost unheard of in debating terms. It has been wonderful to watch students collaborating with each other as they develop their skills. While there were many memorable debates this season, special mention must go to our C Grade Teams 1 and 3 who narrowly missed out on making the finals.  

We are also proud of the 19 Best Speaker awards garnered during the season by our Debating and Public Speaking Captains, Isabel Gray (Year 12) and Samara Gill (Year 12); our School Captain, Annabelle Motteram (Year 12), as well as Isabelle Gough (Year 12), Pia Graham (Year 12) and Lucy Porter (Year 12) in A Grade. In B Grade: Sophie Turnbull (twice) (Year 11), Flynn O’Brien (Year 11), Gabriella Tymms (Year 11) and Georgina Cottrill (Year 11). In C Grade: Charlotte Murdoch (Year 10), Isabella McDonald (Year 10), Isobel Tanner (twice) (Year 10), Julia Thompson (Year 10) and Sophie Garrett (Year 10). In D Grade: Fleur Anstee (Year 9) and Lucy Campbell (Year 9). 

We farewell our A Grade debaters who have been stalwarts of our program, and encourage them to take up the opportunity of developing their adjudication skills under the guidance of and training with the DAV so that our paths may cross again.