Debating
Students are encouraged to take part in debating as it sharpens analytical skills and ones ability to speak publicly. They learn to argue one side of a case while taking into consideration the counter argument.
There are four to five debates held a year with semi-finals and finals.
From the inter-school competition a team is selected to represent the College at the Russell McVeagh Debating Competition. College staff takes an active interest by watching the debates when they are held and offering regular support.
Winning debaters Jessica Storey, Ena Husaric and Olivia Hall
Winning Debaters!
The team of Olivia Hall, Ena Husaric and Jessica Storey recently debated their way to victory in the grand final of the Auckland Secondary Schools’ Debating Competition Premier Advanced grade.
The Y13 students argued successfully against Westlake Girls High School’s moot that “This house would ban jury trials”.
The competition was held in a packed College Auditorium and was followed by the Auckland Schools Debating organisation’s prize-giving.
The team also recently won the Holyoake Inter-Collegiate Debating Cup donated by Newmarket Rotary, an annual debating contest between Diocesan and St Cuthbert’s College.
It has been remarkably even over its nine-year history, this latest success bringing the tally to 5-4 in our favour.
The College receives a cheque for $400 and the girls win $100 each. They successfully negated the moot that all alcohol and cigarette advertising should be banned.
These latest wins builds on the team’s success earlier this year, when they won the Russell McVeagh Auckland Secondary Schools’ Debating Championship. Their coach on both occasions was Nupur Upadhyay, who was part of the College team that won the Russell McVeagh Championship in 2008 as well as being Head Girl of the College then.
St Cuthbert’s winning debating team: Olivia Hall, Nupur Upadhyay (coach), Jessica Storey and Ena Husaric
Auckland Schools´ Debating Champs Again!
St Cuthbert’s College won the Russell McVeagh Auckland Regional Schools’ Debating Championships held at Saint Kentigern College this weekend.
Earlier in the week, St Cuthbert’s two Premier Advanced teams had competed against each other to see who would represent the College. The team of Olivia Hall, Ena Husaric and Jessica Storey won. They went on to win all six debates over the weekend including the final against King’s College. Their coach was Nupur Upadhyay, St Cuthbert’s College Head Girl in 2008 and member of the 2008 winning Russell McVeagh Debating Team.
Jessica now goes forward to the squad to represent Auckland in the National Competition and Olivia is a reserve. This will be in Wellington, where the best debaters from around New Zealand gather for the national championships. The Grand Final is usually held in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament and is supported by key politicians as well as the Governor-General, patron of the New Zealand Schools Debating Council.
In a further success for St Cuthbert’s, Ashleigh Hunt and Lucinda Stothers from the College’s other team joined forces with an Auckland Grammar School student to take part in the first three rounds. They did not progress to the quarter finals but Lucinda impressed the adjudicators and won a certificate.
April 2010
Russell McVeagh Winners
An all girls’ school won the Auckland region Russell McVeagh debating competition for the first time in its history over the weekend.
St Cuthbert’s College won the competition in a final against Kings’ College, arguing in favour of the moot ‘This house would allow parents to design their babies.’ “It was tough,” said Nupur Upadhyay, who represented St Cuthbert’s College with Ella Tunnicliffe-Glass and Zoe Butters. “It’s so much easier to be negative and tear down the other team’s arguments.”
“They were a really strong team,” said Ella. “We wanted to do well, not just because St Cuthbert’s hadn’t won before, but because it’s so male dominated.”
The Russell McVeagh regional competitions match the top debaters from each school in the region. The top debaters from regional competitions are selected to compete in the national competition in May, from which debaters are drawn to select New Zealand in the World Schools’ Debating Championships. Nupur was selected to represent Auckland and Ella will be a reserve.
April 2008