Senior Competition
The Senior Competition took place on Thursday afternoon December 15th. For the past month all students engaged in writing speeches focused on topics ,of personal interest to them. After heats in each class a band of merry finalised was created and these entered a battle of wit, creativity and persuasion.
The finalists consisted of Transition year students Luke’s Wu and Mark Mulvey. Persephone Kianka and Mazzy Ronaldson represented fifth year and the sixth year duo were Julia Twamley and Patrick Kilroy. Hannah Charlton and Mary Telford were our judges and in their final comments encouraged all students to keep writing and to take courage to stand up and be heard.
Although the judging process proved difficult , decisions had to be made.Patrick Kilroy took the first prize with his speech ‘The Unspoken Rules Of Engagement’. A speech on ‘Hamilton, the Musical’ by Persephone Kianka came second and Mazzie Ronaldson’s reflections on ‘The Curse if Empathy and her Sister -Wife Guilt’ was third.
All speeches were of a high standard and the content of each was rich in thought, analysis and opinion. We, as the English department, were very proud of our students and really see the benefit and importance of this great event in our school calendar.
Thanks to the judges, students ,who contributed speeches and musical entertainment for the interval, and all staff who helped to make this a truly successful and special event.
It is always a privilege and treat to hear the thoughts and ideas of our creative and reflective students and already we are excited for next year!
Ms Maguire Timmins
Junior Competition
The Junior section of the John Scottus Annual Speech Competition began at 2pm on Thursday December 15th. It was a very enjoyable occasion for the audience which was treated to eight interesting, well researched and thought provoking speeches, as well as musical entertainment during the interval.
Preparation for the competition began three weeks earlier with all students writing a speech, assessing their own speech and that of their peers and presenting it to their teachers and classmates.
The classes then voted on who would best represent them at the competition.
For First Year, Maeve Foley advocated passionately for a ban on homework while Oscar Gong Yu told us how we, as individuals, could contribute to a ‘Just Society’.
Sasha Beatty provided teachers and fellow students with many tips on ‘How to Survive School’ and her classmate, Harry Lawlor’s comedic talents were very much to the fore as he explained ‘Why Aliens have a Perfectly Good Reason for Watching Us’
For the Third Years, Kaiya Reddy spoke from the heart on the very serious issue of ‘Homelessness’. Teia Marsh provided us with many valid reasons ‘Why Education needs to Change’. Molly Hirst engaged her audience fully as we saw our ‘Very own Future’ take shape before our eyes and Willow Hannon gave us an insight into what it is like ‘Being an Introvert’.
While the judges, Miss Catherine Molloy, a teacher of English and History and Miss Anna Breen, a past pupil, deliberated, there was a musical interlude provided by singers Paris Moran, Jasmin Gallagher, Tove Murphy and Anna Font, pianist Willow Hannon and guitarist and ukulele player, Maria Colfer.
Our MC for the afternoon was genial Mr Paul Kerr, popular teacher of Irish and Music who complimented the students on their attention throughout.
The judges had a difficult decision to make, but the winner was Molly Hirst. Teia Marsh took second place and Willow Hannon came third.
It was a most enjoyable afternoon for all and a testament to the power and benefit of good speech.
Ms. Katryn Breen