St Teresa’s High School emerged as the overall runner-up among 110 schools participating in The Speech and Drama College’s prestigious public speaking competition recently.
In a fiercely competitive environment spanning over February and March, St Teresa’s School excelled across multiple categories, securing second place in both the Impromptu and Junior sections.
Marketing and communications manager Lianda May said the highlight of the season came as the trophy team of Amy-Leigh Green, Yaounde Mabaso, and Maxine Anafi clinched second place at the finals evening on April 4 with Uyanda Ngobese as master of ceremonies for the evening.
“Uyanda was invited to be master of ceremonies due to finishing just outside of the top five for best speaker, another remarkable achievement for our school. Under the themes “Power dynamics” for juniors and “What makes humans great or not so great” for seniors, our teams showcased exceptional insight, eloquence, maturity, and articulation.”
The impromptu teams faced the challenge of crafting compelling presentations within a tight 30-minute window and delivered thought-provoking speeches that captivated the audience and adjudicators alike.
“The trophy team, exploring the topic ‘The stories we tell,’ delved into nuanced topics such as neurodivergence, who has the power to create stories, and the influence of globalisation on storytelling. Their journey to the finals involved rigorous preparation, extensive research, and meticulous refinement of their speeches,” noted May.
St Teresa’s School Head of Public Speaking, Clare Wright, expressed immense pride in the various teams’ accomplishments, “This experience not only fostered confidence in our Rosies but also equipped them with invaluable communication skills crucial for success in the modern world.”
St Teresa’s School High School principal, Elsa de Bod concluded, “St Teresa’s School’s participation in the competition highlights our commitment to nurturing young voices and empowering our students to articulate their perspectives with clarity and conviction while epitomising our mercy ethos and values of collaboration and excellence.”
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