The Year 8 and 9 Public Speaking Competition
The Year 8 and 9 Public Speaking Competition was held on Thursday 27 August and provided an evening of thoughtful ideas, courageous presentations and excellent communication. Students challenged and inspired the audience through a range of engaging speeches, exploring topics such as:
- Choose: One Choice Away from Your Future Self
- Noise: When Popularity Gets Too Loud
- Weed: What We Can Learn from a Tiny Plant
- Trend: The Trend
- Rebels: Our Right to Question
The standard of speaking was exceptionally high, making the judges’ task difficult. Congratulations to Oliver Annandale, the overall winner, with Mila Schoep finishing a very close second. All students who participated should be commended for their preparation, confidence and willingness to share their ideas before an audience.
One of our judges was Carie de Vries, a Kennedy alumna and Head Girl in 2021, who encouraged students by highlighting the many benefits of developing strong public speaking skills. Parents, family members, and guests enjoyed refreshments while the judges deliberated, then provided feedback and announced the results.
It was a delightful evening celebrating student voice and the power of effective communication. A special thank you to Mrs Breytenbach, Ms Anderson, and Mrs Handley for organising and supporting the event.
