More than a dozen middle school students stood up in front of their peers, parents, teachers and District staff last week, and delivered fun, informative speeches at the District-wide Speak Out event.
Each of the 16 students who took part in the event, which was held at Peter Ewart Middle School, had previously won speech contests at their respective schools. That work involved not just writing, fine-tuning and practicing their speeches, but also researching their topics and compiling information into a 3-4 minute speech. Topics tackled by the young speakers included mental health, good work habits, confidence and artificial intelligence, among others.
While Speak Out participants did have to be chosen to take part, organizers noted before the speeches started that the district event was not a competition, but instead a celebration.'
The goal of Speak Out is to encourage students to be creative and think critically, while also focusing on communication skills.
"Speak Out is a celebration of communication and an opportunity for all students to share their thoughts and ideas, while also giving them a chance to be creative. Public speaking takes courage, and we are so proud of them for their hard work," said Kendra Simonetto, District Principal of Instructional Services and Inclusive Education.
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