On Saturday 20 May, our debating teams achieved spectacular results in the Atheneum Saturday League Break Rounds.

Two senior and two junior teams entered the tournament. We had a team in each category comprising mainly of girls who only joined debating this year. One team in each category broke into the quarter finals. The junior breaking team, Thabisile Dube (Form I), Jemma Tresling (Form II) and Owami Msomi (Form I), debated extremely well, and Jemma and Owami went on to place 3rd and 6th respectively in the overall rankings – a very impressive result.

The senior breaking team, Danika Neuhoff (Form V), Francesca Lewitton (Form IV), Juhi Baboolal (Form III), Reitumetse Molapo (Form III) and Hayley Laithwaite (Form V) went on to win the senior category in a final against Rhodesfield Engineering School. Reitumetse (Tumi to us) placed 12th, I (Hayley) and Danika tied in 8th place, Juhi placed 6th and Francesca (Frankie) was ranked Top Senior Speaker.

While it was our first time at Atheneum, our teams excelled, and everyone was able to grow and develop their debating skills. I am proud of each debater who participated as, having seen and worked with most of them, I have watched their talents grow throughout the tournament. We really enjoyed the new tournament – the motions (topics) were interesting and very engaging and we thoroughly enjoyed the close competition throughout. Our teams will have some well-deserved celebrations before we begin the preparations for provincials later this year.

HAYLEY LAITHWAITE
HEAD OF DEBATING (FORM V)