Debate Continues

While pandemic restrictions make things a bit more challenging, debating and public speaking continue to thrive at SJR. In August, SJR hosted the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships online. This was the first time that the Worlds was held online and it went very well. The winner was a student from Cape Town, South Africa, but the three SJR students did very well. All three qualified for the finals, with Vishwa (Grade 12) being a finalist in Impromptu Speaking, while Keegan (Grade 11) and Lillian Borger '20 were finalists in both Impromptu Speaking and Debating. Lillian finished 9th overall and 2nd in Impromptu Speaking.

In mid-October, SJR students were involved in two competitions, the McGill Tournament and the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Championships. At McGill, 2 Grade 9 SJR teams, Poppy & Jozi , and Vedant & Ian, made the Jr semi-finals. At the Internationals, all three SJR competitors qualified for finals, with Anya (Grade 12) qualifying in Persuasive Speaking, Rhea (Grade 11) qualifying in Impromptu Speaking, and Keegan (Grade 11) qualifying in both Impromptu Speaking and Interpretive Reading. Keegan was second overall in the tournament and qualified for the World Championships, while Anya placed second in Persuasive Speaking.

The Asper Cup, which is the provincial British Parliamentary Debating Championships, were held on Sunday, Nov 1. All SJR teams did very well.

1
 Vishwa (Grade 12) and Keegan (Grade 11) 
2 Penelope (Grade 11) and Anya (Grade 12) 
3 Aliya (Grade 11) and Rhea (Grade 11)
6 Rere (Grade 12) and Jenna (Grade 12)
7 Josh (Grade 10) and Lev (Grade 10)
8 Andrew (Grade 10) and Connor (Grade 10)
9 Rachel (Grade 10) and Dasha (Grade 10)
 
Individual Speakers:

1
 Vishwa
2 Aliya
3 Penelope
5 Keegan 
7 Anya
8 Josh
9 Jenna
10 Rhea
 
As a result, the following teams qualified for the National BP Championships in Alberta
Vishwa and Keegan
Penelope and Anya 
Aliya and Rhea
Rere and Jenna
Josh and Lev
Back
St. John’s-Ravenscourt School was founded in 1820 principally to serve the children of the Selkirk settlers. By 1834 there were forty students, evenly split between boys and girls. SJR has inevitably grown and changed over the years since, though its success throughout has been unimpeachable. We have graduated 18 Rhodes scholars, for example, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted patronage and established a scholarship in her name in 1981. Today the programs are as strong as our reputation. A strong academic program is paired with an equally strong attention to the values of stewardship, ethical leadership, and excellence in all areas of academic, social and athletic life.