The fifth and final round of the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV) Debating Competition marked an excellent conclusion to a year of commitment, preparation and growth for our TKS debaters. Competing at Avila College, students once again demonstrated the confidence, teamwork and critical thinking skills they have developed throughout the season.
Our Year 10 students enjoyed an outstanding evening, securing victories in both debates on whether parents should be penalised for student cheating. Team 1, comprising Jordan D, Ohm K, Lukas W and Nina C, delivered a convincing performance, while Team 2’s Methuki D, Daivik D and Grace H (pictured) were equally impressive in their win. Congratulations to Jordan and Methuki, who were both awarded Best Speaker honours for their persuasive arguments, depth of reasoning and confident delivery.
The Year 9 team of Jayme S, Lilly G and Lisa Z tackled the challenging topic of whether dynamic pricing should be banned. In a closely contested debate, they presented thoughtful arguments, worked effectively together and represented TKS with professionalism and poise. While the result narrowly went against them, the team should be proud of a strong performance against tough opposition.
Our Year 11 teams also concluded the season with victories. While circumstances beyond their control prevented them from presenting their prepared cases on the night, the result reflects the dedication, preparation and teamwork they demonstrated throughout the season. Their commitment to the competition and willingness to challenge themselves have been a credit to both themselves and the School.
As the DAV season comes to a close, we would like to sincerely thank our parent community for their ongoing support. Your attendance at debates and encouragement of our students has played an important role in making the experience such a positive and rewarding one.
For many students, debating is far from over. The annual House Debating Tournament, led by Senior School House Coordinator Mr Alex Wilson, is now underway, with strong participation from students eager to continue developing their public speaking, critical thinking and argument-building skills.
This year’s opening debates have already seen students tackle thought-provoking topics, including whether energy drinks should be illegal for people under 18 and whether facial recognition technology should be banned in public spaces. We look forward to watching the competition unfold in the coming weeks and congratulate all students who have represented TKS so thoughtfully throughout the DAV season.
