Hello Prospective Debate Team Member and Debate Parents!
We are so pleased to welcome your and your parents into our Debate family! When you
join the Debate team, your parents join too, because parental support and
encouragement is integral to your experience this year. Our team is experiencing
exciting growth; this will be a great year for Debate at PCHS!
Over the next few weeks, you and you parents will be receiving lots of information to
tell you all about Debate in general and our Debate team specifically. Parents, we need
your help and feedback in all parts of this program, from listening to your student
practice, to taking your turn as a tournament judge, to supporting any fundraising we
do, etc. Our parent involvement is vital to our success and growth!
We will have a Debate parent meeting just for you on two dates to accommodate your
schedules: Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:00 OR Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 3:00 in Ms. EN’s
room, 147 at the high school. The same information will be covered at both meetings.
You can find out about all the different debate events and begin familiarizing
yourself with what you will need to know as a judge at tournaments. Please plan to
join us on one of these dates! More information about this will follow.
We have great leadership this year! Our debate captains are Isabella Canada, Caitlin
Silianoff, and Abi Kretschmar and Emma Louden is our secretary. We’ve added some
additional officers to meet the needs of our growing team: Liz Cantlebary, Public
Relations; Boyana Martinova, Debate Events Lead; and Liam Osborn, IE Lead.
Coach/advisors are Sharon Ellsworth-Nielson, Matt Nagel, and Kevin Whitty, our
assistant coach and Policy advisor. The best way to contact us is through our school
emails: mnagel@pcschools.us, sellsworth-nielson@pcschools.us and
kevin.whitty@utah.edu. The officers also have a Facebook page for the Debate members
(PCHS debate) so that the officers can communicate instantly with the team.
Debate has several traditional debate events and several prepared speech events.
Debaters, tell your parents some details about the events below and especially your
event; we encourage team members to try several events and then specialize in two, one
Debate event and one IE event.
Speech Events (also known as Individual Events or IEs):
Impromptu, Oratory, Humorous & Dramatic Interp, Duo Interp, Extemporaneous
Debate Events
Congress, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy debate
Practice Schedule (especially for those students not enrolled in Debate class):
We will have an open debate meeting/practice every Wed. after school in room 147.
The first 10 minutes will be announcements, decisions, and tournament sign-ups and
details; the remainder of the hour will be practice, with the team dividing into events
and practicing together, researching, debating, performing, critiquing, etc. Attendance
MOST Wednesdays is expected, because despite your other obligations, the entire team
and your event team must know we can count on you. We will hold frequent practice
rounds to prepare you for tournaments; meeting together is vital. We hope to see you
at least three times per month for news and practice. THE MORE WE PRACTICE,
THE BETTER WE PERFORM AT TOURNAMENTS. Our overall goal is a great
performance at Region and State when it counts, so we are expecting serious team
members to attend FIVE of our SEVEN open tournaments leading up to Region on
Tues., Feb. 23rd.
Monetary and Time Commitments:
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$100.00 sign-up fee (goes to costs for transportation and tournaments)
$10.00 for Debate T-shirt; $30.00 for Debate team jacket, if desired (not required)
Debater helps with our fundraisers – we’ll have no more than 2 (selling
concessions during football and basketball and one or two others as needed)
$80.00 towards hotel and judging costs if attending the USU Eastern in December
(in addition to the $100.00 sign up fee)
Each parent (or designated friend or family member over 18) judges an event
at THREE tournaments during the 2015-16 season (this is the minimum
commitment – more is wonderful!). Parents who don’t want to judge MUST
provide a substitute; EVERY debater is obligated to provide a judge.
Tournament Schedule 2015-16:
October 2015
November 2015
Oct. 9, 10
Pirate Pete’s - Cyprus
(Fri.-IEs; Sat.-Debate)
Nov. 6, 7
T-Bird Tempest Timpview
(Fri.-IEs; Sat.-Debate)
Oct. 23, 24
Hunter Haunting - Hunter
(Fri.-Debate; Sat.-IEs)
Nov. 20, 21
Skyhawk Smackdown –
Salem Hills
(Fri.-Debate; Sat.-IEs)
February 2016
March 2016
Feb. 5, 6
NCFL Qual – Juan Diego
(by invitation)
Mar. 4 – 6
NSDA NatQuals – Debate &
Congress
(by invitation)
Feb. 20
NSDANatQuals - IEs
(by invitation)
Feb. 23
Region at Park City
Mar. 11, 12
3A State at Carbon
(overnight)
December 2015
Dec. 18, 19
USU Eastern – Carbon
(Overnight; Fri.-IEs; Sat.Debate)
April/May 2016
January 2016
Jan. 22, 23
Marie Clegg Mem. – UVU
(all events both days)
Jan. 29
Wasatch Wipeout –
Wasatch
(all events just Friday)
June 2016
June 6 – 10
NSDA Nationals - SLC
The success of PCHS Debate is a direct result of our character, integrity, hard work, and
commitment to each other and this program. Our students are outstanding and are
bringing home more and more awards that attest to their excellence. At 3A State last
year, we were a mere 3 points away from taking 2nd place overall. Imagine what we can
accomplish this year as we focus on excellence in all we do! Then imagine what YOU
can accomplish as part of this team - the quirky team meetings, the medals, the inside
jokes, the trophies, the overnight hotel trips, our parties. . . they are just part of the
reason our students work hard and have fun. As a graduate of PCHS with a
background in speech and forensics, you think faster, you argue better, and you speak
more clearly and with a sense of purpose and style. The benefits and payoff of being
part of the PCHS Debate team go far past a way to get involved in high school. The
skills you learn and hone here may very well have a real and positive impact on the rest
of your life.
I,
, recognize that Debate Tournaments are team events and
that participation benefits the team, the school, and the individual. Misconduct at a
tournament could result in a parent phone call and/or immediate disqualification from
the tournament, a zero (for class students), and school discipline policies being enacted
upon return to school. Major rule infractions could result in the student’s removal from
the team.
(initial)
I promise to adhere consistently to practice times as presented by event leaders, to
follow through with sign-ups, to find support from our community (in the form of
chaperones, judges, and fundraising), and to contribute my best effort to this group. I
agree to attend 3 debate meetings/practices per month for productive practice time in
debate or IEs (checked off by event leader) before I can go to competition. I understand
that to compete I must commit 2 weeks prior to the event, must find a judge to bring to
3 tournaments per season (part of my grade if I’m in Debate class), and must pay $25 to
the club if I no-show or withdraw after commitment to a tournament. This is a team
effort and my part in the team is vital.
(initial)
I understand that I must be prepared and be at the bus pick-up on time on tournament
day dressed professionally, with files/ charged computer, snacks, cash for food, etc. To
be a true participant of Debate and be prepared for Region competition, I agree to attend
at least five (5) tournaments through the 2015-16 Debate season (unless special
arrangements have been made). If I am a student in the Debate class, this is part of
my grade.
(initial)
I also understand that an upfront fee of $100.00 per participant must be collected to pay
for tournaments. (If students are unable to pay, they should speak to the coaches. All
students who are interested in competing in Debate will be able to).
(initial)
Competition rules are:
1. Be on time – for the bus and for your rounds. If you are late for the bus, we will
probably leave you and you must pay the $25.00 no-show/late withdrawal fee. If
you are late to a round, you may be disqualified.
2. Be courteous to all contestants. Remember, we are representing Park City High
School and we have pride, class, manners, and are respectful of each other and of
other schools. Don’t be an arrogant brat. You’ll be more respected if you’re
understated in public and surprisingly masterful in your rounds.
3. Do not leave any tournament without our knowledge and permission. It is
important that we all stay together as a team and that we know where you are at
all times.
4. Dress appropriately. Professional attire is required for all tournaments. This
means gentlemen wear dress pants, dress shirt, dress shoes, and a tie. Ladies
wear a dress or blouse and skirt, or slacks and shirt. A student may be
disqualified for violating the dress code.
5. Prepare well in advance for your event. You must attend practice
sessions/rounds to show your preparedness to your event leader or coach.
6. Strive for Excellence in your preparation and performance, and then let it go. If
you do your BEST - are better than last time - then you can take satisfaction in
that. You’ll place often and you’ll lose sometimes, but you’ll always learn
something of value and have a good time. We’re building friendships and lifelong skills here, in addition to amassing the inevitable awards that are the result
of excellence .
Student’s name (printed):________________________________________
Signature of student:
Student contact: phone
email
Name of parent:
Parent contact: phone
email
Signature of parent:
(Return this page to Ms. EN or Emma Louden by Sept. 16. Pay your $100.00 Debate fee
to Donna McManus in the office. We will check with her on Sept. 16 to get an updated
list of all those who have paid their fees. You CANNOT attend tournaments until forms
are in and fees are paid.)