SPEECH AND DEBATE
SPEECH
Rosehill Christian School has an exciting and comprehensive after-school Competitive Speech program. Speech, a gift from God since the garden, is not only a fine art, but an important life skill. Through speech, we can accomplish tasks, enhance our education and careers, share the love of Christ, build relationships with God and others, and much more. RCS offers speech programs for grades 1-8 (ACSI & PSIA), and 9-12 (TAPPS).
Elementary Speech
Students in grades 1-5 choose selections in Bible Memorization, Storytelling, Prose, Poetry, and Original Speech and present their pieces at our in-house RCS speech meet. The top two students per category, per grade, are then coached to compete at the ACSI Regional and PSIA District speech meets. For the past 9 years, more than 80% of our competitors have received superior ratings (highest) at the regional meet, with numerous students also receiving gold, silver, and bronze medals. Students placing in the top two at PSIA District Speech are also eligible to compete in the PSIA State Championships.
Student Learning Goals
Learn fundamental terms, principles, and concepts of communication
Present one’s words and meanings clearly to an audience
Practice self-control
Enhance self-confidence and articulation
Middle School Speech
Competitors in grades 6-8 compete in categories including Prose, Poetry, Modern Oratory, and Impromptu Speaking. Students finishing in the top two spots at the PSIA District competition advance to the State Championships at Texas Christian University. RCS received both district and state championships for Poetry in 2021, and was the state runner-up in Modern Oratory.
Student Learning Goals
Learn fundamental terms, principles, and concepts of communication
View examples of each type of speech in person, in the media, in competition, and throughout history
Discuss the uniqueness of each type of speech, strengths, weaknesses, and potential applications to daily life
Enhance self-confidence and articulation in regard to reasoning with, explaining to, describing, and persuading the people and the world around us
Prepare speeches through research, cutting, rough drafts, and peer reviews
Present the finished speech in front of the coach, judges, and peers
Respond to other presentations with encouraging words in an effort to learn how to give and receive constructive criticism
High School Speech
The RCS high school Speech team is combined with the Academics and Debate teams and together they compete in 19 categories for individual and team state titles. Speech events consist of Solo Acting, Duet Acting, Original Oratory, Persuasive Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, and Prose Interpretation.
Those wishing to join the high school Speech team first compete in a judged preliminary competition, and then three competitors in each category represent RCS at the TAPPS State Championships in Waco.
RCS was the TAPPS Speech State Champion in 2017, 2018, and 2021.
The combined team was also the overall Academics/Speech State Champion in 2021.
Student Learning Goals
Learn fundamental terms, principles, and concepts of communication
Become aware of usage and implications of both verbal and non-verbal communication
Master speech for CLARITY
“For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.” 1 Corinthians 14:8-9
Master speech for COMMUNICATION
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Colossians 4:5-
Consider speech as CONDUCT
“Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” 1 Timothy 4: 11-13
DEBATE
The benefits of high school debate go far beyond mere speaking skills. Debate encourages intelligent approach to controversial issues, increases understanding of opposing viewpoints, and enables students to have well reasoned and supported arguments. Students can participate in Lincoln Douglas Debate (LD), Extemporaneous/Persuasive Speaking, Original Oratory (a pre-written persuasive speech), and Current Events, as well as other types of debate and various tournaments throughout the year.
Student Learning Goals
Develop critical thinking skills
Use evidence skillfully and impartially
Organize thoughts and articulate them concisely and coherently
Distinguish between logically valid inferences and invalid references
Learn independently and develop an abiding interest in doing so
Strip verbal arguments of irrelevance and phrase them in essential terms
Habitually question one's own views and attempt to understand both the assumptions that are critical to those views and the implications of the views
Find one’s voice and analyze one’s audience
Learn to see both sides of an issue which diffuses conflict and creates true leaders
Learn to listen critically and critique arguments
Conduct ethical research and learn to challenge the source of data
Develop reasoned arguments and present them with appropriate inflection, tempo, professionalism, and awareness of one’s nonverbal communication
AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
2022 Results
This was our first year competing in PSIA (Private Schools Interscholastic Association).
Great job to all who competed!
State PSIA medalists:
2nd STORYTELLING:
Rebecca Spurgeon FIRST PLACE (State Champion)
1st STORYTELLING:
Cashner Arnold SIXTH PLACE
5th PROSE INTERPRETATION:
Kenzie Wood FIRST PLACE (State Champion)
6th PROSE INTERPRETATION:
Richard Salter FIRST PLACE (State Champion)
7/8 PROSE INTERPRETATION:
Tindall May: SECOND PLACE (State Runner-Up)
Anjelica Swank: FIFTH PLACE
MODERN ORATORY:
Mallory Herrera THIRD PLACE
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING:
Sarah Powell THIRD PLACE
VOCABULARY 5:
Anna Buntrock THIRD PLACE
MUSIC MEMORY 6:
Preston Geil FOURTH PLACE
DICTIONARY SKILLS 7:
Isaac LaRovere FIFTH PLACE
2021 Results
TAPPS 2021 3A State Academic/Speech/Debate Championship Results:
OVERALL: STATE CHAMPIONS
SPEECH: STATE CHAMPIONS
ACADEMICS: STATE CHAMPIONS
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Jeff Shelton Distinguished Academic Student (All-Around Best State Academic Competitor):
Matthew Grimm & Trevor Manning (tie)
Prose Interpretation:
Anna Fisher--Gold Medal (State Champion)
Chloe Geil--Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Abby Turney--5th Place
Poetry Interpretation:
Chloe Geil--Gold Medal (State Champion)
Abby Turney--5th Place
Sam Olivares--6th Place
Duet Acting:
Austin Cappleman & Maddy Beth Newell--Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Abby Turney & Anna Fisher--Bronze Medal (3rd place)
Chloe Geil & Jaeden Johnson--4th Place
Solo Acting:
Ellie Tewell--Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Abby Turney--Bronze Medal (3rd place)
Chloe Geil--7th Place
Literary Criticism:
Tyler Tewell--Gold Medal (State Champion)
Lauren Culwell--Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Ready Writing:
Isabel Fisher---Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Alexis Swain--4th Place
Advanced Math:
Matthew Grimm----Gold Medal (State Champion)
Trevor Manning--4th Place
Allie Vasseur--6th Place
Science:
Matthew Grimm----Gold Medal (State Champion)
Trevor Manning--5th Place
Mathematics:
Sam Swain----Bronze Medal (3rd place)
Current Events:
Lauren Culwell--Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Curtis Higginbotham--6th Place
LD Debate:
Kassidy Mentze--Bronze Medal (3rd place)
Alexis Swain--5th Place
Number Sense:
Trevor Manning--Silver Medal (State Runner-up)
Jonathan Vuong--8th Place
Original Oratory:
Breah Ellison--Bronze Medal (3rd place)
Alexis Swain--5th Place
Curtis Higginbotham--8th Place
Spelling:
Jonathan Vuong--Bronze Medal (3rd place)
Thea Buntrock--6th Place
Persuasive Speaking:
Alexis Swain--4th Place
Kassidy Mentze--6th Place
Austin Cappleman--8th Place
Social Studies:
Thomas Gehrke--7th Place
Spanish:
Trevor Manning--7th Place (tie)
Alex Smith--7th Place (tie)
Calculator:
Trevor Manning--7th Place
James Sanchez--8th Place
2021 PSIA 8th Grade State Speech Results
POETRY INTERPRETATION:
Katherine Burleson: FIRST PLACE (State Champion)
Ava Swank: THIRD PLACE
Gili Gould: FOURTH PLACE
MODERN ORATORY:
Maggie Herrera: SECOND PLACE (State Runner-Up)
Lilly Burk: THIRD PLACE
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING:
Rachel Spurgeon: FOURTH PLACE
2019 TAPPS Honors & Recognitions - Highlights
TAPPS Academics, Speech, Debate Overall State Runner-up
TAPPS Speech State Runner-up
TAPPS All-Around Best State Speech Competitor
TAPPS All-Around Best State Academic Competitor
TAPPS Solo Acting State Champion
TAPPS Mathematics State Champion
TAPPS Advanced Mathematics State Champion
TAPPS Physics State Champion
TAPPS Solo Acting State Runner-up
TAPPS Prose Interpretation State Runner-up
TAPPS Duet Acting State Runner-up
TAPPS Poetry Interpretation State Runner-up
TAPPS Current Events State Runner-up