Lauren Butler, Co-ordinator HICES Debating Primary

Suzanne Plume, Co-ordinator Debating and Public Speaking 7-12

After the first four rounds Emanuel students have a plethora of good reasons to be proud of our representative debating teams.

The Juniors have won three out of four debates and now face an elimination final to determine whether they go on to the knockout finals rounds.

The Middles have also won three out of four clashes and await a similar determination.

Our Senior A team bows out, despite some superlative individual performances, as they won two and lost two debates.

Our Senior B team remains undefeated after a dream run and many sterling individual and team performances. They will definitely proceed to the finals rounds.

Our Opens team, while they are in exactly the same situation as the Middles and Junior teams (i.e. they have lost just one of their four scheduled debates) are in a competition with only five teams. According to HICES rules, only one team of the five will progress to the finals from this group, so we await the official verdict as to whether they will proceed to the next round.

Thanks to our coaches: Lauren Butler (Juniors), Elinor Stephenson from Masters Academy (Middles and Seniors) and Yael Grunseit (Opens) as well as the parents and Emanuel teachers who support our HICES debaters.