Greetings and Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year for GW Speech and Debate,
After being back in building for just a few days, I am feeling really positive about the year. There is a great deal of positive energy in the air that I think will benefit our program. Additionally, we are still riding high on our exciting success from the National Tournament that should propel us into our new adventures!
All local tournaments will be hosted in person again. This means for the first time in three years, we will not be starting the season competing online. This also means that at least half of our team has never competed in person so, we plan on providing discussions, instruction and guidance on what this looks like and how to best prepare. Rather than competing from home or from GW on a laptop, we will be going back into school buildings around the state for competition. We are also looking at the possibility of resuming out of state travel and will announce these plans in the coming weeks.
In addition to myself, Devin Sarno and Miles Owens will be working with the students during class time and will make connections outside of class as well. They operate as assistant coaches and teaching assistants. Devin attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles and has a theatre degree with an emphasis in acting. Miles graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in history and philosophy. He is a 2011 graduate of GW and won the National Title in Policy Debate. Devin will be in the building on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Miles comes in all 5 days of the school week. Both Devin and Miles have worked with the team since 2012 and offer expertise in their respective areas.
For those of you new to our program, new students are given a chance in the first week of school to learn about the different competitive events offered in their given class periods and make a choice on one to learn about in depth and prepare for competition. The new students get to collaborate and work alongside the older students in class on honing their craft. Additionally, some of the returning students have had the opportunity to choose new events for the year if they so desire.
We invite everyone to our Welcome Event on Thursday, September 8 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. This event will start in the south courtyard at GW with some snacks and refreshment. We will later move into the building to go over the logistics of our program. Despite the challenges of the past few years, GW Speech and Debate continues to thrive!
Optimistically,
Maryrose Kohan
T: (720.460.0154)
E: maryrose_kohan@dpsk12.net
PS.
Below Is a re-cap of information I shared at our Welcome Night last year.
Co-curricular course; competition tied to class. Learn how to compete and practice in class, perform and compete at Saturday tournaments.
Brand new competitors are required to compete at four tournaments in the first semester and three in the second semester.
Students have selected a competitive event upon which to focus. To read more about the competitive events, look at the National Speech and Debate Association Website. https://www.speechanddebate.org/competition-events/
The grades students receive in class depends upon which event they have selected. There are event folders posted in Schoology that contain the point breakdowns per event.
Students are NOT graded based on how they perform in competition. They are graded on simply ATTENDING the competition.
Unlike other classes, students do not use Schoology to turn in assignments. We mostly work using google documents that can be shared and re-shared.
I plan on using Thursday mornings during my second hour plan time to update grades.
During class time students work in small groups based on the competitive events. They work and learn from the older students who serve as class leaders. Students may also work with one of the two assistants who help with the team, Miles Owens and Devin Sarno. They will practice all that they learn in class in terms of engaging in practice debates and speeches.
Students will have the opportunity to try out what they have been learning before the first tournament at what we call “Novice Night.” This is going to be held on Tuesday, September 27 from 4:00-7:00. Older students will watch the novices and provide them with feedback.
Students who miss class on a day that involves graded speaking or debate practice, need to make this up. They can do this before school, after school or even virtually online.
After being back in building for just a few days, I am feeling really positive about the year. There is a great deal of positive energy in the air that I think will benefit our program. Additionally, we are still riding high on our exciting success from the National Tournament that should propel us into our new adventures!
All local tournaments will be hosted in person again. This means for the first time in three years, we will not be starting the season competing online. This also means that at least half of our team has never competed in person so, we plan on providing discussions, instruction and guidance on what this looks like and how to best prepare. Rather than competing from home or from GW on a laptop, we will be going back into school buildings around the state for competition. We are also looking at the possibility of resuming out of state travel and will announce these plans in the coming weeks.
In addition to myself, Devin Sarno and Miles Owens will be working with the students during class time and will make connections outside of class as well. They operate as assistant coaches and teaching assistants. Devin attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles and has a theatre degree with an emphasis in acting. Miles graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in history and philosophy. He is a 2011 graduate of GW and won the National Title in Policy Debate. Devin will be in the building on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Miles comes in all 5 days of the school week. Both Devin and Miles have worked with the team since 2012 and offer expertise in their respective areas.
For those of you new to our program, new students are given a chance in the first week of school to learn about the different competitive events offered in their given class periods and make a choice on one to learn about in depth and prepare for competition. The new students get to collaborate and work alongside the older students in class on honing their craft. Additionally, some of the returning students have had the opportunity to choose new events for the year if they so desire.
We invite everyone to our Welcome Event on Thursday, September 8 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. This event will start in the south courtyard at GW with some snacks and refreshment. We will later move into the building to go over the logistics of our program. Despite the challenges of the past few years, GW Speech and Debate continues to thrive!
Optimistically,
Maryrose Kohan
T: (720.460.0154)
E: maryrose_kohan@dpsk12.net
PS.
Below Is a re-cap of information I shared at our Welcome Night last year.
Co-curricular course; competition tied to class. Learn how to compete and practice in class, perform and compete at Saturday tournaments.
Brand new competitors are required to compete at four tournaments in the first semester and three in the second semester.
Students have selected a competitive event upon which to focus. To read more about the competitive events, look at the National Speech and Debate Association Website. https://www.speechanddebate.org/competition-events/
The grades students receive in class depends upon which event they have selected. There are event folders posted in Schoology that contain the point breakdowns per event.
Students are NOT graded based on how they perform in competition. They are graded on simply ATTENDING the competition.
Unlike other classes, students do not use Schoology to turn in assignments. We mostly work using google documents that can be shared and re-shared.
I plan on using Thursday mornings during my second hour plan time to update grades.
During class time students work in small groups based on the competitive events. They work and learn from the older students who serve as class leaders. Students may also work with one of the two assistants who help with the team, Miles Owens and Devin Sarno. They will practice all that they learn in class in terms of engaging in practice debates and speeches.
Students will have the opportunity to try out what they have been learning before the first tournament at what we call “Novice Night.” This is going to be held on Tuesday, September 27 from 4:00-7:00. Older students will watch the novices and provide them with feedback.
Students who miss class on a day that involves graded speaking or debate practice, need to make this up. They can do this before school, after school or even virtually online.
