Saltus Students Excel In Debate Tournament
Students from Saltus Grammar School earned multiple honours at the 16th Annual Bermuda Spring Debating & Public Speaking Tournament hosted by Warwick Academy.
A spokesperson said, “Saltus students proudly took part in the 16th Annual Bermuda Spring Debating & Public Speaking Tournament this weekend, generously hosted this year by Warwick Academy. The event brought together students from across Bermuda, along with visiting teams from Winnipeg, Canada, for two evenings of public speaking and a full day of debate.
Front row: Hanora Kirwan [Grade 7], Christopher Madeiros [SGY1], Tera Hassen [SGY1], Tse Burgess [SGY2], Marley Tear [SGY2], Euan Forster [Grade 9], and Cameron Forster [Grade 6]; Back row: Addison Korff [Grade 7], Caitlyn Korff [Grade 9], Steven Chu [SGY2], Jordan Williams [Grade 10], Callie Lucas [SGY1], Casper Penz [Grade 8], and Jasmine Reid-Robaine [Grade 8]. Missing from photo: Levi Masters [Grade 9] and Lauren Simons [Grade 8]
“Following outstanding performances at the Independent International Schools Public Speaking Competition [IISPSC] in October and the Bermuda National Public Speaking Competition in November, Saltus students once again showcased the depth and strength of the school’s debate and public speaking programme, delivering exceptional performances across both the middle and senior divisions.
Middle School Highlights
“Saltus earned 2nd place overall in Middle School Public Speaking, with several strong individual results:
- Casper Penz [Grade 8] – 1st place in News Podcast and 3rd place in Dramatic Interpretation
- Lauren Simons [Grade 8] – 3rd place in After Dinner Speaking
- Cameron Forster [Grade 6 – 1st place in After Dinner and 1st place in Dramatic Interpretation
- Hanora Kirwan [Grade 7] – 2nd place in Interpretative Reading
Senior School Highlights
“Saltus teams placed 1st and 2nd place in the High School division.
“A special congratulations goes to Jordan Williams [Grade 10], who was named the Overall National Bermuda Public Speaker and received the English-Speaking Union [ESU] Award, earning the opportunity to compete in the ESU London competition this July.
“Individual accomplishments included:
- Callie Lucas [SGY1] – 1st place in Impromptu Speaking and After Dinner Speaking
- Tera Hassen [SGY1] – 3rd place in Impromptu Speaking and 2nd place for Persuasive Speaking
- Jordan Williams [Grade 10] – 2nd place in Impromptu Speaking, 1st place in Persuasive Speaking, and 1st place in Interpretative Reading.
“In debate, Saltus senior students also delivered impressive performances:
- Marley Tear [SGY2] – 3rd place as overall debater
- Tse Burgess [SGY2] – 2nd place as overall debater
- Tera Hassen [SGY1] – 1st place as overall debater
“In a very close final, Saltus placed 2nd in overall results, narrowly missing the championship in a split decision against host school Warwick Academy.”
Head of School, Ms. Julie Rousseau praised the students’ incredible achievements: “This continued run of success highlights the exceptional strength of the Saltus debate and public speaking programme. Our students are not only achieving impressive results, but also developing the confidence, critical thinking, and leadership skills that will serve them well far beyond the stage.”
Reflecting on their experiences at the competition some of student competitors shared:
“As a team we excelled in consistency, collaboration, and cooperation. I’m also proud of my effort and performance this year and am looking forward to doing the same on the international stage this April and July,” commented Jordan Williams [Grade 10].
“I had a wonderful experience at the competition and being able to represent Saltus. It was also so satisfying to see all of our hard work come to fruition in the debate,” said Tse Burgess [SGY2].
“The competition was really fun. I especially enjoyed the debate component and it was a great way to end my last time representing Saltus!” said Marley Tear [SGY2].
“The beauty of this competition was that you get to experience both debate and public speaking. For me, it was a great chance to challenge myself and try something new while competing alongside some really strong competitors,” said Tera Hassen [SGY1].
The spokesperson said, “Many Saltus students participated this year, as speakers, debaters, and invaluable support team members. Their hard work, enthusiasm, and teamwork were truly inspiring. The school also appreciates the many community judges, including Saltus teachers, parents, and alumni, who volunteered their time to support the competition. Saltus extends a heartfelt thank-you to the coaches who supported and prepared the students over the past few months: Mr. Aiden Young, Mr. Matthew Phillips, Mrs. Lynsey Turner, and Mrs. Christianna Dakin.”
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