CSDA Debating Wrap Up

The school was awarded the Senior Aggregate Award for the most consistent and best performing senior teams over the entire 2024 season.

The Catholic Schools Debating Association debating competition has finished and at the school assembly last week. Mr Thomas Fraser, Debating Coordinator, acknowledged all students and gave a summary of how each Year group performed.

Ms Refalo gave each student their certificate and for the senior teams their ‘Senior Aggregate Award for 2024’. Mr Fraser’s assembly summary is below:

Year 7
This was the first year of debating for many of the students in Year 7 and a big step up from junior school debating. The students did fantastic, only losing one debate in Round 1 to 6 and making it to Elimination Round 3. Students will receive a certificate and a badge they will wear with pride.
The Year 7 Team consisted of Amelia L., Emma O., Holly G., Christina L. G. and Olivia P.

Year 8
In their second year of debating the students did well, losing only one debate in Round 1 to 6 and getting knocked out in Elimination Round 1 by Parramatta Marist… in what has been called a controversial decision.
The Year 8 Team consisted of Crystal M., Heidi S., Ella C. and Jillian D-B.

Year 9
The Year 9 students battled through Round 1 to 6 and whilst they did not make it to the finals, they did have some convincing wins and showed resilience in what was a stiff competition.
The Year 9 Team consisted of Olivia Atkinson, Siya P., Victoria M., Bhakti D. and Evia H.

Year 10
Our Year 10 team did exceptionally well from Round 1 to 6 only losing one of their debates. During the finals, they were successful in Elimination Round 1 but were unfortunately knocked out in Round 2 of the finals.
The Year 10 Team consisted of Erin M., Majerin P., Amelia A., Prasidha P. and Ella B.

Year 11
In their absence due to exams, I would still like to highlight the exceptional achievements of our Year 11 Team. Through their extraordinary skill, teamwork and capabilities the team went through Rounds 1 to 6 undefeated, many of the debates clear wins in their favour. They made it through to the Quarter Finals, meaning they placed in the top 8 teams, out of 90 that competed in 2024. Unfortunately, they lost that debate but this was still a fantastic achievement.
The Year 11 Team consisted of Niamh M., Kaitlin C., Jasmine S. and Elisha Z.

Year 12

The Year 12 Team in their final year of debating were:

Alyssa A. – one half of our 2023/2024 School Captain duo, her prowess as a speaker is already well known. Alyssa has been debating since Year 8 and played a vital role as part of the team.

Mikaela B. S. – starting in Year 7 Mikaela and the team made it to the first round of eliminations. After taking a hiatus she resumed in Year 10, taking the key role of third speaker which she has excelled at over the past three years.

Erica J. – starting in Year 10 and continuing through to Year 12, Erica has been a pivotal part of the debating team in each of their wins.

Anusha H. – starting her debating career in primary school Anusha then took some time off before resuming in Year 9. In that year the team made it to the quarter-finals. Subsequently, she continued debating in Years 10 through 12.

The Year 12 Team fought and excelled each week. Winning each of their debates from Round 1 to 6, to collecting wins throughout the finals till they made it to the Grand Final, going up against Rosebank College, Five Dock. In what was an awe-inspiring debate that impressed the crowd and the panel of judges the students came away with the Runners Up prize. I am immensely proud of this team and their debating capabilities.

Yr 12 Debating Team (Erica J. absent) Senior Aggregate Award 2024

In addition to coming Runners Up in the 2024 season our Year 12 team, along with the Year 11 Team, took out the Senior Aggregate Award for 2024. This award is given to the school with the most consistent and best performing senior teams over the entire 2024 season. Out of all the schools that participated this year, we collectively had the most wins across the two teams.