Literacy Enrichment - Get Involved!

2020 St Joseph's Regional College v MacKillop College Debating and Public Speaking Competition: Thursday, 27th August. Week 6 of Term Two.

Open to all students, the 2020 SJRC v MacKillop College Debating and Public Speaking Competition is now seeking expressions of interest from students of all year groups to train and compete as SJRC representatives. We are seeking one team per year group (four team members plus two substitutes) and individual students wishing to try their hand at public speaking.

Students will be expected to regularly attend a one hour weekly coaching session at school starting in Week 8 (Likely to be Wednesdays 3.30-4.30pm).

Here are five Reasons why Debating and Public Speaking are important:

1. Gives improved critical thinking skills.
2. You’ll gain public speaking skills for life!
3. Increased retention of information learned.
4. Enhanced teamwork skills and collaboration.
5. More confidence to stand up for the truth when a discussion is promoting inaccuracies.

Would you like to know more about Debating and Public Speaking in general: https://digital.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/the-arts-unit-home/art-bites?eb2ea475_page=2

Curious? Absolute beginners and experienced debaters and public speakers welcome. Contact Mrs McKee via email now to express your interest in the 2020 SJRC Debating and Public Speaking Team.

The world needs good debaters now more than ever.

Join the 2020 SJRC Debating and Public Speaking Competition
and make a difference.

Still in the Spotlight

ABC’s Heywire and The Dorethea Mackellar Poetry Competition:

This week we will be focussing on two openings for students who have an interest in storytelling, film, and writing. The first is the ABC’s Heywire

1. Heywire puts young Australians at the centre of the conversations that shape their communities.

The annual Heywire cycle begins with a storytelling competition - open to people aged 16-22, living in regional or rural Australia. Heywire encourages young people to tell stories about their life outside the major cities in text, photo, video or audio format. Over the past 17 years, more than 9,000 young Australians have taken part.
But there’s plenty more on offer at ABC’s Heywire. Check out their site: https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/about/

2. Dorethea Mackellar Poetry Competition: In memory of the prominent Australian poet, this is a poetry writing competition for students of all ages and closes 30 June.

Visit https://www.dorothea.com.au/The-Poetry-of-Dorothea-Mackellar for more information on how to enter.

3. #LITFEST2444: Our own remarkable Literacy festival continues online: https://www.litfest2444.com.au/

What our SJRC Students recommend:

Zoe Copeland in Year 8 recommends the ‘Maze Runner’ and the ‘Darkest Minds’ series.

Jorja Paine in Year 8 recommends 'My Secret Guide to Paris' by Lisa Schroeder. It is a book about a girl named Nora who loves Paris and always dreams of visiting. After her grandmother died she went to Paris with her mother and brother and found a treasure hunt that her grandmother had set up before she died.

This book will appeal to 10-14 year olds. I have enjoyed this book because one day, I want to go to Paris and it was very interesting to hear all about the country and to see where the treasure hunt would lead to.